Status Indication Triggering and User Interfacing in a Smart-Home Hazard Detector

ABSTRACT

In various embodiments, a hazard detector may be presented. The hazard detector may include at least one hazard detection sensor that detects a presence of at least one type of hazard. The hazard detector may include a speaker, a light, and a motion detection sensor that detects motion in an ambient environment of the hazard detector. A processing system of the hazard detector may be configured to select an illumination state based on a determined status. The processing system may cause the light to illuminate based on the selected illumination state. The processing system may determine a gesture has been performed in the ambient environment of the hazard detector following the light being illuminated based on the selected illumination state. The processing system may output a detail of the status via the speaker corresponding to the illumination state in response to determining the gesture has been performed.

CROSS REFERENCES

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/887,969, filed Oct. 7, 2013 (Attorney Docket No.94021-868290|NES0308-PROV) entitled “User-Friendly Detection Unit,” andclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/887,963, filedOct. 7, 2013 (Attorney Docket No. 94021-868456|NES0318-PROV) which areeach hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

Hazard detection devices, such as smoke alarms and carbon monoxidealarms, help alert home or building occupants to the presence of dangerbut typically leave much to be desired in the realm of usability. Forexample, in many conventional hazard detection devices, when aninstalled battery's charge is low, the hazard detection device willperiodically emit a chirp or other sound to alert nearby persons to thelow battery charge condition. Frequently, this sound will initiate beingproduced by the hazard detection device during the night, waking nearbypersons from sleep and potentially sending them on a hunt through theirdwelling for the offending hazard detection device. Further, in order totest the functionality of a conventional hazard detection device, it istypically required to press a button located on the hazard detectiondevice. Such an arrangement may be inefficient, such as if the hazarddetection device is located in an inconvenient place.

FIELD

This patent specification relates to systems, devices, methods, andrelated computer program products for smart buildings including thesmart home. More particularly, this patent specification relates todetection units, such as hazard detection units (e.g., smoke detectors.carbon monoxide sensors, etc.) or other monitoring devices, that areuseful in smart building and smart home environments.

SUMMARY

Various systems, devices, apparatuses, methods, computer readablemediums are presented that allow for the presentation of statuses of ahazard detector. Such a status may be presented in the form of anilluminated light using one or more colors and animations. In responseto such a status being presented, a user may provide input to learnfurther details of the status. In response to the user input, furtherdetail may be output via a different mode than the status. For instance,if the status was output using light, the details may be output usingsound.

In some embodiments, a hazard detector is presented. The hazard detectormay include at least one hazard detection sensor that detects a presenceof at least one type of hazard. The hazard detector may include a motiondetection sensor that detects motion in an ambient environment of thehazard detector. The hazard detector may include a speaker. The hazarddetector may include a light that comprises multiple lighting elements.The hazard detector may include a processing system provided inoperative communication with the at least one hazard detection sensor,the motion detection sensor, and the light. The processing system may beconfigured to select an illumination state from a plurality ofillumination states, wherein each illumination state of the plurality ofillumination states is assigned to a status associated with the hazarddetector. The processing system may be configured to cause the light toilluminate based on the selected illumination state of the plurality ofillumination states. The processing system may be configured todetermine a gesture has been performed based on analyzing motiondetected by the motion detection sensor in the ambient environment ofthe hazard detector following the light being illuminated based on theselected illumination state. The processing system may be configured tooutput a detail of the status via the speaker corresponding to theillumination state in response to determining the gesture has beenperformed.

Embodiments of such a hazard detector may include one or more of thefollowing features: The hazard detector may include a light sensor thatsenses a brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazarddetector. The processing system may be configured to receive anindication of the brightness level in the ambient environment of thehazard detector from the light sensor. The processing system may beconfigured to determine the brightness level in the ambient environmentof the hazard detector has decreased to a threshold value. Theprocessing system may be configured to activate the motion detectionsensor in response to the brightness level in the ambient environment ofthe hazard detector reaching the threshold value. The processing systemmay be configured to monitor, using the motion detection sensor, for thegesture for up to a predefined period of time following activation. Thehazard detector may include an on-board battery module that powers thehazard detector, wherein the motion detection sensor is poweredexclusively by the on-board battery module. The illumination state maybe indicative of a low-battery status of the on-board battery module ofthe hazard detector. The detail of the status output by the speaker maybe a spoken auditory message. The processing system being configured todetermine the gesture has been performed may include the processingsystem being configured to determine a plurality of waves have beenperformed as the gesture by a user in the ambient environment of thehazard detector. The at least one hazard detection sensor may include asmoke detection sensor and a carbon monoxide detection sensor.

In some embodiments, a method for a hazard detector to output a statusdetail is presented. The method may include selecting, by the hazarddetector, an illumination state from a plurality of illumination states,wherein each illumination state of the plurality of illumination statesis assigned to a status associated with the hazard detector. The methodmay include causing, by the hazard detector, a light of the hazarddetector to illuminate based on the selected illumination state of theplurality of illumination states. The method may include determining, bythe hazard detector, a gesture has been performed based on analyzingmotion detected in the ambient environment of the hazard detectorfollowing the light being illuminated based on the selected illuminationstate. The method may include outputting, by the hazard detector, adetail of the status via a speaker corresponding to the illuminationstate in response to determining the gesture has been performed.

In some embodiments, a hazard detector apparatus is presented. Theapparatus may include means for selecting an illumination state from aplurality of illumination states, wherein each illumination state of theplurality of illumination states is assigned to a status associated withthe hazard detector apparatus. The apparatus may include means forcausing an illumination means of the hazard detector apparatus toilluminate based on the selected illumination state of the plurality ofillumination states. The apparatus may include means for determining agesture has been performed based on analyzing motion detected in theambient environment of the hazard detector apparatus following thelighting means being illuminated based on the selected illuminationstate. The apparatus may include means for outputting a detail of thestatus via an auditory means corresponding to the illumination state inresponse to determining the gesture has been performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of variousembodiments may be realized by reference to the following figures. Inthe appended figures, similar components or features may have the samereference label.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a hazarddetector.

FIG. 2 illustrates another block diagram of an embodiment of a hazarddetector.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a system that may perform afunction in response to an unrelated event.

FIG. 4 illustrates an external view of an embodiment of a hazarddetector.

FIG. 5 illustrates an external view of an embodiment of a hazarddetector that uses multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a light.

FIG. 6 illustrates an external view of an embodiment of a hazarddetector that outputs a circular pattern of light.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a hazard detector having LEDsarranged in a circle.

FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate an embodiment of four various visual effects thatmay be generated using a light of a hazard detector.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an embodiment of a pulse visual effect thatmay be generated using a light of a hazard detector.

FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of a rotating visual effect thatmay be output by a hazard detector.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of various hue range patterns whichmay be used to generate visual effects by a hazard detector.

FIG. 12 illustrates embodiments of definitions for visual effects thatmay be used by a hazard detector.

FIG. 13 illustrates various combinations of visual effects and colorthat may be used by a hazard detector.

FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of a user performing a gesture that isdetected by a hazard detector.

FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment of a smart-home environment withinwhich one or more of the devices, methods, systems, services, and/orcomputer program products described herein may be applicable.

FIG. 16A illustrates a network-level view of the extensible devices andservices platform with which a hazard detector may be integrated.

FIG. 16B illustrates an embodiment of an abstracted functional view ofthe extensible devices and services platform of FIG. 16A, with referenceto a processing engine as well as devices of the smart-home environment.

FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment of a method for outputting a status ofa hazard detector.

FIG. 18 illustrates another embodiment of a method for outputting astatus of a hazard detector.

FIG. 19 illustrates an embodiment of a method for performing a functionin response to an unrelated environmental characteristic.

FIG. 20 illustrates an embodiment of a method for providing detail abouta status in response to user input.

FIG. 21 illustrates an embodiment of a method for providing detail by ahazard detector about a status in response to a user-performed gesture.

FIG. 22 illustrates an embodiment of a method for outputting a statusbased on user input and the criticality of the status.

FIG. 23 illustrates an embodiment of a computer system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hazard detectors may include smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors,and/or other forms of detectors that can detect the presence of ahazard. For instance, a hazard detector may be a combined smoke andcarbon monoxide detector configured to be installed on a wall or ceilingin a room, such as a room of a home (e.g., bedroom, office, kitchen,hallway, etc.) or other type of structure. It may be beneficial for sucha hazard detector to provide a user with information regarding thefunctioning of the hazard detector. For the purposes of this document, auser refers to a person who is in the vicinity of the hazard detectorand/or is interacting with the hazard detector. The hazard detector mayprovide a user with status information, such as the result of a batterytest that determines if the battery has sufficient charge, has a lowcharge, or needs to be replaced immediately. In a conventional hazarddetector, whenever a low battery condition is detected, the hazarddetector may commence emitting a periodic noise, such as a loud chirp,to alert nearby users to the low battery condition. In contrast to sucha conventional arrangement, information regarding a status of the hazarddetector may be presented by embodiments of a hazard detector detailedherein in response to environmental conditions.

Such environmental conditions may be indicative of a user leaving aroom, potentially for the last time on a given day (or going to bed).The hazard detector may monitor the lighting conditions of its ambientenvironment and determine when the amount of ambient light has droppedbelow a threshold level. Such a drop in ambient light may be indicativeof a user shutting one or more lights off in the vicinity of the hazarddetector. Further, the ambient light dropping below the threshold levelmay be indicative of evening and a dearth of natural light being presentin the ambient environment of the hazard detector. In response to thehazard detector detecting that the amount of light present in itsvicinity has dropped below the threshold level, either performance of astatus check may be triggered or presentation of the results of a statuscheck may be triggered to be presented. The status check may checkvarious conditions of the hazard detector, such as the battery chargelevel, connectivity to a remote server, whether any messages are pendingfor a user of the hazard detector (e.g., at the remote server), whetherthe smoke sensor and/or carbon monoxide sensor is functioning properly,whether the effective life of the hazard detector has expired, whether afull test of the hazard detector should be performed, whether wiredpower is being received by the hazard detector, whether connectivity toa wireless network is present, and/or other conditions of the hazarddetector.

Regardless of whether the status check is performed prior to or inresponse to the ambient light of the hazard detector dropping to thethreshold value, the drop in ambient lighting may trigger the hazarddetector to visually present a result of the status check. Color,animation patterns, and/or a speed of presentation may be used to conveyinformation to a user. For instance, green light may be presented to theuser for a brief time following the lighting condition reaching thethreshold brightness level. Such green light may be indicative of thestatus check identifying no issues that need action from a user. Ifyellow light is displayed instead, this may be indicative of the statuscheck determining one or more issues, such as a low battery condition,require action from the user. Yellow light may be indicative of actionsthat are not needed immediately. Red light may be indicative of thestatus check determining one or more issues need to be dealt with by theuser immediately, such as a missing battery or a damaged sensor. The useof light to provide the status may be especially useful to avoid beingoverly intrusive to users in the vicinity of the hazard detector. Forinstance, the status check of the hazard detector could be ignored by anuninterested user simply by not looking at the hazard detector. Thus,for some embodiments, it has been found particularly advantageous toprovide an optical signal, such as the light signal described above,while particularly avoiding the provision of an accompanying alertingsound signal, for non-alarm status notifications. While sound signalsare certainly a necessary part of alarm-level conditions in which ahazardous condition is actually detected, it has been found to be moreadvantageous not to use sound signals, and to use more subtle signalssuch as light-only signals, for certain circumstances of lesserimportance. In some scenarios this can have very advantageousconsequences in comparison to alternative scenarios. For example, it canbe the case that a hazard detector emitting the dreaded low-battery‘chirp’ might simply be removed from the wall by an irritated, sleepyuser and set on the floor or table with the battery compartment hastilyopened and the battery removed. This is a clearly disadvantageoussituation since there is then no hazard detection at all for thatlocation until such time as the user, perhaps the following day(hopefully), reinstalls a fresh battery and places the unit back in itsproper location. In contrast, by using a mildly alerting optical signal(such as a yellow light) while withholding the irritating chirp forsituations in which the battery is starting to get low, the user willknow that something needs attention when they see that yellow color, butthe situation of disablement by an irritated, sleepy user can be avoidedso that there is proper hazard detection taking place at all times. Asanother advantage, the provision of a brief, silent green light (orother silent but visually reassuring signal) can provide a pleasingsense of reassurance for the user, without being irritated orinterfering. For example, for the situation of a mother who has just puther young child to bed and is turning out the lights for the night, thebrief, silent, pleasant green glow can provide a satisfying sense ofwell-being and reassurance. Notably, at the same, there is aconstructive recurring pattern of cognition being built up, whether itbe in the conscious mind or the subconscious mind, in that there will bean expectation that the green glow will occur when the light is turnedout, such that if the green glow is replaced by a yellow glow, it willbe all the more noticeable. It is to be appreciated that the featuresand advantages of the preferred embodiments are best applied in thecontext of a battery that is starting to get low, but that is not toolow. In accordance with governmental safety standards, it is preferableto continue to provide the unpleasant chirping sound when the batterygets too low. However, when implemented according to one or more of thepreferred embodiments described herein, it is substantially lessprobable that the hazard detector will ever get to the “too low”condition, as there will have likely been several opportunities for theuser to have already changed the battery upon seeing and responding tothe silent yellow-light alerts that will have occurred over several daysor weeks.

Once a status has been presented, the light on the hazard detector mayshut off or may fade to off. Once the status has been presented, thehazard detector may be configured to not present the status again untilat least a predefined period of time has elapsed (e.g., 1 hour, 4 hours,20 hours, 1 day, etc.). In some embodiments, the hazard detector may beconfigured to provide ambient lighting if motion is detected in thevicinity of the hazard detector, the ambient lighting is below thethreshold, and the hazard detector is configured to provide such light(e.g., the hazard detector has received input indicating it is notpresent in a bedroom). The same light which output the status may beused to provide ambient lighting, possibility using a different color,such as white light.

If a user views the status presented by the hazard detector and issatisfied with the status or is otherwise uninterested, the user mayperform no other action, may simply leave the room, may go to bed, orotherwise may continue about his or her day. However, in somesituations, the user may desire more information about the status. Forinstance, if the hazard detector presents a yellow status, the user maydesire to learn one or more details about the status. For apredetermined period of time after the status has been presented, thehazard detector may activate a motion detector that can determine if theuser has performed any gestures in the vicinity of the hazard detector.For instance, if the hazard detector is attached to the ceiling, belowthe hazard detector or otherwise nearby, the user may wave one time ormultiple times to trigger the hazard detector to provide detail aboutthe previously-displayed status. If the gesture is detected, rather thanoutputting a visual indicator, the hazard detector may output anauditory message. For instance, the auditory message may be a spokenmessage that indicates further detail about the status of the hazarddetector. As an example, the hazard detector may state “The battery islow. Please replace the battery at your earliest convenience.” Theability to use a gesture to trigger the detail about the status to bespoken to the user may be useful especially if the hazard detector isout of reach, such as mounted to a ceiling.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a hazard detector100. Hazard detector 100 may include: processing system 110, hazardsensor 120, light sensor 130, and light 140. It should be understoodthat this block diagram is a simplification of hazard detector 100;other components may be present. For instance, hazard detector 100requires some form of power source. As another example, hazard detector100 likely includes some form of sound creator configured to make a loudnoise when the presence of the hazard is detected by hazard sensor 120.

Hazard sensor 120 may be configured to detect a particular type ofhazard in the vicinity of hazard detector 100. For instance, hazardsensor 120 may be configured to detect the presence of smoke or thepresence of carbon monoxide in the vicinity of hazard detector 100.While hazard detector 100 is illustrated as having a single hazardsensor 120, it should be understood that multiple hazard sensors may bepresent. For instance, hazard detector 100 may include both a smokesensor and a carbon monoxide sensor. In some embodiments, multiple formsof smoke sensors may be present. For instance, an ionization-based smokesensor may be present and also a photoelectric smoke sensor may bepresent. Each of such types of smoke sensor may be preferable fordetecting various forms of fires (e.g., fast-flaming fires, slowsmoldering fires). It should be understood that other forms of hazardsensors may be possible to use as hazard sensor 120; for example, hazardsensor 120 may be configured to detect the presence of ammonium,volatile organic compounds, humidity, temperature, or any otherenvironmental condition which may pose a threat to users or equipment inthe vicinity. Whether one or more hazard sensors are present, data maybe transferred to processing system 110. For example, if hazard sensor120 detects the presence of smoke, data indicating the presence of smokemay be transferred to processing system 110 by hazard sensor 120. Hazardsensor 120 may also be able to provide processing system 110 withadditional information, such as data indicating whether hazard sensor120 is functioning properly. In some embodiments, it may be possible forprocessing system 110 to transmit a signal to hazard sensor 120 thatcauses hazard sensor 120 to perform a self-test.

Light sensor 130 may be configured to detect a brightness level of lightin the ambient environment of hazard detector 100. Light sensor 130 mayprovide data to processing system 110 that indicates a brightness of theambient environment of hazard detector 100. In some embodiments, ratherthan providing a brightness level to processing system 110, light sensor130 may indicate to processing system 110 when a threshold brightnesslevel has been reached by the brightness of the ambient environment ofhazard detector 100. In some embodiments, the threshold brightness valuemay be monitored for when the brightness drops below the thresholdbrightness value to trigger the status check of hazard detector 100.

Light 140 may include one or more lighting elements, such as lightemitting diodes (LEDs), that are configured to output multiple colors oflight. Further, light 140 may be configured to output various patternsof light. For example, light 140 may be configured to output green,yellow, red, blue, and white light. Further, light 140 may be configuredto flash, produce a circulation effect (as will be further described inthis document, also referred to as a halo-sweep effect), and/or fade onand off.

Processing system 110 may be in communication with hazard sensor 120,light sensor 130, and the light 140. Processing system 110 may includeone or more processors configured to receive data from hazard sensor 120and light sensor 130, and configured to control illumination of light140. Processing system 110 may receive data from light sensor 130.Processing system 110 may be configured to use the data received fromlight sensor 130 to determine when the brightness in the ambientenvironment of hazard detector 100 has dropped below a thresholdbrightness level. Therefore, processing system 110 may store thethreshold brightness level used for the comparison with brightnessinformation received in the data from light sensor 130. Processingsystem 110 may also be configured to monitor when the last time a statuscheck was performed and/or when was the last time the brightness levelin the ambient environment of hazard detector 100 dropped below thethreshold brightness level. In some embodiments, processing system 110periodically performs a status check of one or more components of hazarddetector 100 (and, possibly, checks an account of the user of hazarddetector 100 stored by a remote server). In some embodiments, ratherthan periodically performing the status check, processing system 110 mayperform the status check in response to the ambient brightness detectedby light sensor 130 dropping below the threshold brightness level.

Processing system 110 may be configured to check the status of hazardsensor 120. For instance, processing system 110 may be configured toquery hazard sensor 120 to determine if hazard sensor 120 is functioningproperly. In some embodiments, processing system 110 is configured todetermine if hazard sensor 120 has expired (for example, smoke detectorsmay be considered only functional for a predetermined amount of time,such as seven years).

Processing system 110 may be configured to check the status of one ormore components of hazard detector 100 in addition to or alternativelyto hazard sensor 120. For instance, processing system 110 may beconfigured to check a battery level of an onboard battery of hazarddetector 100. In response to the status check performed by processingsystem 110, processing system 110 may be configured to determine a lightcolor animation pattern, and/or speed that corresponds to the determinedstatus. Processing system 110 may cause light 140 to illuminateaccording to the determined light color, pattern, and/or speed. Light140 may be lit according to the light color, pattern, and/or speed for apredetermined amount of time, such as two or three seconds in order toconvey the result of the status check to a user in the vicinity ofhazard detector 100. In some embodiments, the status is presented aspart of a one second fade in, one second at full brightness, and onesecond fade out animation of the light. Such a quick presentation mayhelp preserve battery life.

FIG. 2 illustrates another block diagram of an embodiment of a hazarddetector 200. Hazard detector 200 may represent a more detailedembodiment of hazard detector 100. Hazard detector 200 may include:processing system 110, carbon monoxide sensor 121, smoke sensor 122,light sensor 130, light 140, battery-based power source 210, user inputmodule 222, structure power source 220, motion sensor 225, wirelesscommunication module 230, and audio output module 240.

While hazard detector 100 was illustrated as having a single hazardsensor 120, hazard detector 200 has two hazard detectors: carbonmonoxide sensor 121 and smoke sensor 122. To be clear, carbon monoxidesensor 121 may be configured to detect carbon monoxide and smoke sensor122 may be configured to detect smoke. In some embodiments, multipleforms of smoke sensors are present, including an ionization sensor and aphotoelectric sensor. Both carbon monoxide sensor 121 and smoke sensor122 may provide an indication of a presence of the hazard to processingsystem 110.

Light sensor 130 and light 140 may function as detailed in relation tohazard detector 100.

Hazard detector 200 is illustrated as including battery-based powersource 210 and structure power source 220. In some embodiments of hazarddetector 200, such a configuration may be present. Structure powersource 220 may be used to power hazard detector 200 when such power ispresent. Structure power source 220 may represent a hard-wired connectorwithin a structure (e.g., house, building, office, etc.) configured toprovide an AC or DC voltage source to one or more hazard detectorslocated throughout the structure. While the AC or DC power may beavailable a significant percentage of time (e.g., 99.5% of the time), itmay be desirable for hazard detector 200 to continue functioning ifpower in the structure in which hazard detector 200 is installed isunavailable (e.g., during a power failure). As such, battery-based powersource 210 may also be present. Battery-based power source 210 mayinclude one or more batteries which are configured to power the variouscomponents of hazard detector 200 when structure power source 220 is notavailable. In some embodiments of hazard detector 200, structure powersource 220 is not present. As such, hazard detector 200 may permanentlyrely on battery-based power source 210 to power components of hazarddetector 200. Structure power source 220 and battery-based power source210 are illustrated in FIG. 2 as connected with processing system 110.Processing system 110 may be configured to determine if structure powersource 220 is available and/or check a charge level of battery-basedpower source 210. It should be understood that, while structure powersource 220 and battery-based power source 210 are illustrated as onlyconnected with processing system 110, this is for simplicity only;structure power source 220 and battery-based power source 210 may beconnected to the various components of hazard detector 200 as necessaryto power such components.

Motion sensor 225 may be configured to detect motion in the vicinity ofhazard detector 200. Motion sensor 225 may be configured to detect oneor more gestures that may be performed by user in the vicinity of hazarddetector 200. In some embodiments, motion sensor 225 may be a passiveinfrared (PIR) sensor that detects received infrared radiation. Forinstance, motion sensor 225 may be configured to detect a wave gestureperformed by user. In some embodiments, multiple waves may be requiredto be performed by the user in order for a wave gesture to be detected.In some embodiments, motion sensor 225 may only be enabled at certaintimes, such as to conserve power. If only battery-based power source 210is available, motion sensor 225 may only be enabled for a predefinedperiod of time after a status is output via light 140 to a user. Assuch, motion sensor 225 may be used to detect if a gesture is performedby the user within a predefined amount of time after the status has beenoutput via light 140. If structure power source 220 is available, motionsensor 225 may be enabled a greater amount of time. For instance, motionsensor 225 may be used to monitor for whenever a user is within thevicinity of hazard detector 200. Such motion detection may be used toenable lighting to allow a user to see in the vicinity of hazarddetector 200 and/or may be used to control and/or provide data to HVACsystems within the structure. If structure power source 220 isavailable, motion sensor 225 may, in some embodiments, only be enabledfor a predefined period of time after status has been presented vialight 140 in order to monitor for a gesture performed by a user in thevicinity of hazard detector 200.

User input module 222 may represent an alternate form of input componentthrough which a user can provide input to processing system 110 inaddition or in alternate to a gesture. User input module 222 may takethe form of a button or switch on hazard detector 200. By depressing thebutton or actuating the switch, a user can provide input via user inputmodule 222 to processing system 110. For instance, user input module 222may be used to disable the alarm currently sounding by hazard detector200.

Wireless communication module 230 may be configured to allow processingsystem 110 to communicate with a wireless network present within thestructure in which hazard detector 200 is installed. For instance,wireless communication module 230 may be configured to communicate witha wireless network that uses the 802.11a/b/g network protocol forcommunication. Wireless communication module 230 may permit processingsystem 110 to communicate with a remote server. The remote server may beconfigured to provide information to processing system 110 about anaccount of the user associated with hazard detector 200. For instance,if an account of the user maintained at the remote server requiresattention from a user, such indication may be provided to processingsystem 110 via wireless communication module 230. Such indication may beprovided by the remote server in response to inquiry from processingsystem 110 made to the remote server. Further, processing system 110 maytransmit status information to a remote server. Such an arrangement maypermit a user to view status information by logging in to the remoteserver via a computing device.

Audio output module 240 may be configured to output various forms ofaudio in response to data provided to audio output module 240 byprocessing system 110. Audio output module 240 may be a speaker that canoutput recorded or synthesized spoken messages. For instance,voice-based messages, which may indicate the presence of a hazard or mayprovide detail on the status of the hazard detector 200, may be outputby audio output module 240 in order to be heard by a user in thevicinity of hazard detector 200. Audio output module 240 may beconfigured to output an alarm sound, such as a shrill beep or tone thatis intended to alert users to the presence of a hazard. Differentpatterns and/or tones of sound may be used to alert users to differenttypes of hazards. In some embodiments, spoken messages may beinterspersed with patterns and/or tones of sound to alert users to thepresence of a hazard.

Processing system 110, which may be configured to communicate with thevarious components presented in FIG. 2, is part of hazard detector 200.For instance, processing system 110 may receive data from motion sensor225, user input module 222, wireless communication module 230, carbonmonoxide sensor 121, smoke sensor 122, battery-based power source 210,structure power source 220, and/or light sensor 130. Processing system110 may also output data to various components of hazard detector 200,including wireless communication module 230, light 140, and/or audiooutput module 240. Processing system 110 may be configured toperiodically perform, or, in response to environmental condition,perform a status check of one or more components of hazard detector 200.For instance, processing system 110 may be configured to check a chargelevel of battery-based power source 210, check whether structure powersource 220 is available, determine account status maintained at a remoteserver via wireless communication module 230, and/or test whethersensors, such as carbon monoxide sensor 121 and/or smoke sensor 122, arefunctional. Processing system 110 may then output information regardingthe status to a user via light 140 and/or audio output module 240. Itshould be understood that processing system 110 may be configured toperform various blocks of the methods detailed in relation to FIGS.17-21.

Processing system 110 may contain multiple engines that are implementedusing software (running on hardware), firmware, and/or hardware. Suchengines may include status check engine 251, definition lookup engine252, output trigger engine 253, motion analysis engine 254, andpresentation monitor engine 255. It should be understood that suchengines may be split into a greater number of engines or may be combinedinto fewer engines. Status check engine 251 may be configured to performa status check periodically, such as once per day or once per hour. Insome embodiments, status check engine 251 may be configured to perform astatus check based on an indication from output trigger engine 253 thatindicates that a status indication is to be output. Status check engine251 may check the status of one or more components of the hazarddetector. Status check engine 251 may check the status of: a batterylevel of battery-based power source 210 as compared to one or morethresholds, carbon monoxide sensor 121 (e.g., functional, nonfunctionalexpired, etc.), smoke sensor 122 (e.g., functional, nonfunctionalexpired, etc.), motion sensor 225 (e.g., functional, nonfunctional),structure power source 220 (e.g., available, unavailable), light sensor130 (e.g., functional, nonfunctional), etc. Status check engine 251 maycheck the status of a user account associated with the hazard detectorby querying a remote server. Status check engine 251 may checkbattery-based power source 210 against multiple thresholds. A firstthreshold, which may be greater than the second threshold, may be usedto determine that a battery is approaching a low voltage and the usershould consider replacing it. The second threshold may be used todetermine the battery's voltage is low and should be replacedimmediately. More than two thresholds are also possible for assessingbattery voltage.

Based on the result of the status check by status check engine 251, anoutput may be supplied to definition lookup engine 252. Definitionlookup engine 252 may determine a color, animation, and/or speed atwhich light 140 should be illuminated to provide an indication of thestatus to one or more users. Definition lookup engine 252 may access oneor more lookup tables to determine an appropriate combination of color,animation, and/or speed for representing the determined status.

Output trigger engine 253 may cause the appropriate combination ofcolor, animation, and/or speed selected by definition lookup engine 252to be used to illuminate light 140 in response to a determination thatdata from light sensor 130 is indication of the light in the ambientenvironment of hazard detector 200 being at or below a stored thresholdbrightness level and/or that at least an amount of time has elapsedsince the previous time that an indication of the status was output.Presentation monitor engine 255 may determine whether at least a storedthreshold period of time has elapsed since the last time an indicationof the status of the hazard detector was output. If the threshold periodof time has not elapsed, presentation monitor engine 255 may provide anindication to output trigger engine 253 that prevents light 140 frombeing illuminated based on the status.

Motion analysis engine 254 may be active during and/or followingpresentation of the status via light 140 (for up to a stored thresholdperiod of time). If a particular gesture, such as a wave gesture isidentified by motion analysis engine based on data from motion sensor225, detail about the status may be output via audio output module 240or some other component of hazard detector 200.

While the previous detailed embodiments are focused on hazard detectorsconfigured to detect hazards, such as fire, smoke, or carbon monoxide inthe environment of the hazard detector, embodiments detailed in thisdocument may be adapted to detection of other forms of events. FIG. 3illustrates a block diagram of a system 300 that may perform a functionin response to an unrelated event. System 300 may be configured todetect one or more forms of events. Such event may or may not qualify asa hazard. System 300 may represent embodiments of hazard detector 100and/or hazard detector 200 of FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively.Alternatively, system 300 may include: processing system 310, functionmodule 320, event detection module 330, and output module 340.

Function module 320 may be configured to perform some function, such asmonitoring an environment in the vicinity of system 300 for one or moreconditions. For example, these conditions may be hazards. However, itshould be understood that one or more conditions being monitored for byfunction module 320 may be other than hazards. As an example, functionmodule 320 may monitor for motion, temperature, humidity, and/or thepresence or absence of some other condition or object. Function module320 may perform some function other than a monitoring function. Forinstance, function module 320 may perform a status check of some othersystem or may serve to activate some other component or system. Functionmodule 320 may perform any number of various functions such as controlof a motor, a pump, a medical system, a computing device, etc. Functionmodule 320 may provide input to processing system 310. Further,processing system 310 may be configured to check a status of functionmodule 320.

Event detection module 330 may be configured to monitor the vicinity ofsystem 300 for one or more types of event. This event may trigger one ormore actions to be performed by processing system 310. For example, atriggering event detected by event detection module 330 may causeprocessing system 310 to initiate function module 320 and/or perform astatus check of one or more components of system 300, such as functionmodule 320. The event detected by event detection module 330 may beunrelated to the functioning of function module 320. While eventdetection module 330 may be configured to detect an event that coincideswith the time at which the user is likely to desire information aboutsystem 300, this event may be unrelated to performance of any otherfunction of system 300. For example, if function module 320 ismonitoring humidity, event detection module 330 may be configured totrigger based on brightness in the environment of system 300 or someother condition, such as temperature, the presence of a chemical orother substance in the air, motion, or some other type of event orcondition. As a simple example, if event detection module 330 isconfigured to monitor for brightness in the vicinity of system 300, whenthe brightness level in the vicinity of system 300 reaches a predefinedvalue, processing system 310 may perform a self-test or status check onone or more components of system 300, such as function module 320 and/oran onboard power source, such as a battery. Output module 340 may beused to provide an output that indicates the result of the self-test orstatus check. In some embodiments, rather than the self-test or statuscheck being performed in response to the event detected by eventdetection module 330, the self-test or status check may be performedbased on some other schedule, but an indication of the results of theself-test or status check may be output via output module 340 inresponse to the events being detected by event detection module 330.

Event detection module 330 may be configured to detect an event thatcoincides with the time at which the user is likely to desireinformation about system 300. One possible example is based onbrightness of light in the ambient environment of system 300. Forinstance, when the light within the vicinity of system 300 increases, itmay correspond to a light being turned on and the user entering a roomin which system 300 is present. Similarly, when brightness within thevicinity of system 300 decreases, it may correspond to a light beingturned off and the user leaving a room in which system 300 is present.Both of these events may represent an opportune time for either a statuscheck to be performed or results of a status check to be output to auser. For instance, if function module 320 is monitoring a condition ina room of a structure, upon entering the room and turning on a light, auser may find it useful to learn the status of system 300. Similarly, incertain circumstances, the user may find it useful to learn the statusof system 300 upon leaving the room of the structure in which system 300is installed.

Output module 340 may be configured to provide an indication of theself-test or status check performed by processing system 310. Outputmodule 340 may include components configured to visually output anindication of the status or self-test and/or may include componentsconfigured to output audio such that an auditory indication of thestatus or self-test is output. For instance, output module 340 mayinclude one or more speakers and/or one or more lights, such as LEDs,such as detailed in relation to hazard detectors 100 and 200. Outputmodule 340 may receive data from processing system 310 which triggerssound and/or visual output. In some embodiments, processing system 310may output spoken messages to be output by output module 340. It shouldbe understood that embodiments of system 300 may be further configuredto include components such as those detailed in relation to hazarddetector 200 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates an external view of an embodiment of a hazarddetector 400. Hazard detector 400 may represent hazard detector 100,hazard detector 200, or system 300 of FIGS. 1-3, respectively. Hazarddetector 400 may include case 410, light 420, and/or center region 430.Case 410 may represent a shell of hazard detector 400 which isconfigured to be mounted to a wall or ceiling. Case 410 may beconfigured to allow airflow through hazard detector 400 to permit one ormore sensors within hazard detector 400 to be exposed to the air of theambient environment of hazard detector 400. On the side of case 410opposite the side used for mounting, light 420 may be present. Light 420may include one or more light sources, such as LEDs. Light 420 may beconfigured to present various colors and/or various lighting patterns,possibly with such patterns presented at various speeds. For instancelight 420 may be configured to present lighting patterns that appear toproduce a circulation effect, flash, and/or fade. While light 420 may beused to confer information about a status of hazard detector 400, light420 may also be used to provide ambient lighting. For instance, a colorunassociated with a status may be output by light 420 when motion isdetected by hazard detector 400 and the ambient lighting is determinedto be less than a threshold value. Further, in some embodiments, hazarddetector 400 may determine whether such a feature has been enabled ordisabled by user and/or if hazard detector 400 is installed in a bedroom(e.g., by determining whether a user has classified hazard detector 400as installed within a bedroom).

While light 420 is illustrated as a circle (or halo), it should beunderstood that, in other embodiments of hazard detector 400, othershapes may be used for light 420. For instance, light 420 may beelliptical, square, triangular, some other geometric shape, some otherabstract shape, or a line. Similarly, in some embodiments, case 410 issquare or rectangular, with rounded edges. While such a design may bepleasing to the eye, other shapes, both geometric or abstract, may beused to house the functional components of hazard detector 400. In someembodiments, light 420 represents a depressed portion of case 410 whichreflects light generated within hazard detector 400. For instance, oneor more LEDs may be located within case 410, such as behind centerregion 430 and may be output light that reflects off a depressed portionof case 410 in the shape of light 420.

Center region 430 may include a lens that is used in conjunction with amotion sensor to determine if a user is present and/or detect whether agesture has been performed by user. Center region 430 may serve a dualfunction: functioning as a lens and as a button which can be pushed byuser to provide input to hazard detector 400. In some embodiments,center region 430 is only a button. When center region 430 is a button,by having center region 430 encircled by light 420, it may be easy for auser to locate the button in a darkened environment when light 420 isilluminated. In such a situation, the user would only need to pushwithin the circle of light or other region defined by light 420 in orderto actuate the button.

FIG. 5 illustrates an external view of an embodiment of a hazarddetector 500 that uses multiple lighting elements as part of a light. Inhazard detector 500, multiple LEDs are used as the lighting elements aspart of light 520. Hazard detector 500 may represent an embodiment ofhazard detector 400 of FIG. 4. Hazard detector 500 may include hazarddetector 100, hazard detector 200, or system 300 of FIGS. 1-3,respectively. Light 520 may include multiple LEDs. In FIG. 5, light 520is made up of 26 LEDs. It should be understood that the number of LEDsillustrated in FIG. 5 is merely exemplary. For instance, a fewer or agreater number of LEDs may be used to create light 520. As a specificexample, five LEDs may be used as part of light 520. By using multipleLEDs, various lighting effects may be created in which only portions oflight 520 are illuminated at a given time and/or various portions oflight 520 are illuminated with different colors and/or differentbrightness levels at a given time. As an example, the LEDs of light 520may fade from not producing light to a defined brightness level, then,either immediately or after a defined time period, fade back to notproducing light.

In some embodiments, LEDs may be used as part of light 520, which ispresent on case 510. In other embodiments, other forms of componentsthat create visible light may be used in place of LEDs, such as lightsources that use fluorescent or incandescent technologies. Further,light 520 is illustrated in FIG. 5 as being arranged in a circle. Itshould be understood that in other embodiments, light 520 may bearranged in other shapes, such as an oval, square, rectangle, line, orsome abstract shape.

FIG. 6 illustrates an external view of an embodiment of a hazarddetector that outputs a circular pattern of light. Hazard detector 600,which is illustrated in FIG. 6 in two states, may represent hazarddetector 500 of FIG. 5 and/or hazard detector 400 of FIG. 4. Hazarddetector 600 may include hazard detector 100, hazard detector 200, orsystem 300 of FIGS. 1-3, respectively. FIG. 6 illustrates hazarddetector 600 outputting a lighting effect. This lighting effect isoutput in a (roughly) circular pattern and can be referred to as acirculation effect or halo effect.

The circulation effect, also referred to as a halo-sweep effect, can becaused by various lighting elements, such as LEDs, of light 520 beingilluminated at different brightness levels at a given time. Lightingelements of light 520 are illuminated consecutively, then faded to off.This effect results in the appearance of a point of light spinningaround light 520 with a tail. A user viewing hazard detector 600 mayview the circulation or halo effect and understand the status of thehazard detector based on the lighting effect and/or the color of lightbeing output by light 520. In some embodiments, when the circulationeffect is being output, each lighting element of light 520 may outputthe same color, or multiple colors may be output by different lightingelements. Imaginary arrow 601 illustrates the circulation effect, theopposite direction is also possible. The darker a lighting element isshaded in FIG. 6, the brighter the lighting element may be illuminated.Therefore, in some embodiments, a first lighting element may be bright,while the lighting element immediately behind it may be slightly lessbright, and so on. Imaginary arrow 602 shows the circulation effect ofhazard detector 600 at a later time at which a different lightingelement is now the brightest lighting element with subsequent lightingelements being illuminated progressively less bright.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of lighting elements 700 arranged in acircle. Such a pattern of lighting elements (e.g., LED lights) may becoupled on a circumferentially arranged ring portion of a hazarddetector. Such a pattern can include five lighting elements: lightingelements 702, 704, 706, 708 and 710. Lighting elements 700 may be turnedon and off according to a number of patterns and each may cycle throughdifferent hue ranges. The color of each of the lighting elements mayalso vary in order to provide an additional variety of visual effects.While five lighting elements are illustrated, it should be understoodthat a fewer or a greater number of lighting elements may beincorporated as a light of a hazard detector or some other form ofdevice.

FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate an embodiment of four visual effects (alsoreferred to as animations) that may be generated using a light of ahazard detector. FIG. 8A illustrates a representation of a pulsingeffect that may be created when all of lighting elements 702, 704, 706,708 and 710 (shown in FIG. 7) are turned on and off simultaneously.Alternatively, all of lighting elements 702, 704, 706, 708 and 710 mayincrease and decrease the brightness of the light they each produce in asynchronized fashion to create a pulsing effect.

FIG. 8B illustrates a representation of a rotating effect (also referredto as a circulation effect or halo sweep effect) that may be createdwhen all of lighting elements 702, 704, 706, 708 and 710 are turned onand off sequentially in a clockwise direction to create a rotatingeffect. Furthermore, turning on and off the lights may be done in agradual fashion. For example, lighting element 704 may gradually turnoff and lighting element 702 gradually turns on while lighting elements706, 708 and 710 are turned on at an equal brightness. FIG. 10 providesa further illustration of the rotating visual effect of FIG. 8B (andFIG. 6), according to an embodiment. Viewed from left to right, FIG. 10shows new lights turning on at one end of the rotating visual effect andother lights gradually turning off at the other end of the rotationvisual effect. The hatch patterns of each of the sequentialrepresentations illustrate how the rotating light may change colorduring the rotation sequence. Although lighting elements 702, 704, 706,708 and 710 may each be a different color individually, the coloredlight mixing causes the color of the rotating visual effect toconstantly change through the course of the visual effect.

FIG. 8C illustrates a representation of a wave visual effect that may becreated when lighting elements 700 (shown in FIG. 7) turn on and off ina side-to-side direction. For example, at a given point in time as shownin FIG. 8C, lighting element 710 may be most bright, lighting elements708 and 702 may be the next brightest, and lighting elements 706 and 704may be the least bright. Shortly thereafter, the lights may graduallychange brightness in a linear manner such that lighting elements 704 and706 are the brightest, lighting elements 708 and 702 are the nextbrightest, and lighting element 710 is the least bright.

FIG. 8D illustrates a representation of a shimmer visual effect that maybe created when each of the lighting elements 700 cycle through a huerange pattern with each lighting element's hue range pattern being outof sync with all of the lights. FIG. 11 illustrates the different huerange patterns associated with each of the lighting elements 700 for theshimmering visual effect, according to an embodiment. The extent towhich the lighting elements 702, 704, 706, 708 and 710 are out of syncmay be varied in order to produce variations of the shimmer visualeffect.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an embodiment of a pulse visual effect thatmay be generated using a light of a hazard detector. FIG. 9A representsan on and off pattern for power off or no power available situationswherein the pulse animations will transition smoothly through pulses inorder to provide an alert in a non-distracting manner. FIG. 9Brepresents left-to-right pulse patterns that could be used whenpresenting a user with selectable options via visual effects. Forexample, a button (such as center region 430 of FIG. 4) may be used toselect a language preference for the operation of hazard detector 400during an initial setup procedure. A user could be asked to press such abutton when the left side is pulsing for English and when the right sideis pulsing for Chinese. Therefore, a user may wait until the side oflight is pulsing or otherwise illuminated that is associated with theuser's desired selection. In some embodiments, rather than pressing abutton, the user may perform a gesture, such as one or multiple waves ofa hand.

In various embodiments, the visual effects described above could bevaried in a number of different ways. For example, each effect may beanimated faster or slower, brighter or dimmer, for a specific number ofanimation cycles, with only some of the light participating, and usingdifferent colors, e.g., white, blue, green, yellow and red. and/or amixture of multiple colors.

These visual effects may be generated by the hazard detectors detailedherein for a variety of specified purposes. For example, a specificcolor, animation, animation speed, etc. or combinations thereof mayrepresent one or more of the following alerts or notifications provideda hazard detector: booting up, selecting language, ready forconnections, connected to client, button pressed, button pressed fortest, countdown to test, test under way, test completed, pre-alarms,smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, heat alarms, multi-criteriaalarms, hushed after alarm, post-alarm, problems, night light state,reset, shutdown begin, shutdown, safely light, battery very low, batterycritical, power confirmation, and more. By way of example and not by wayof limitation, FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate an exemplary “visualvocabulary” for visual effects and colors that may be used byembodiments of hazard detectors.

FIG. 11 illustrates various hue range patterns associated with each ofthe lighting elements 700 for the shimmering visual effect, according toan embodiment. The extent to which lighting elements (abbreviated LE inFIGS. 11) 702, 704, 706, 708 and 710 are out of sync may be varied inorder to produce variations of the shimmer visual effect. Asillustrated, each lighting element is increased and decreased inbrightness between two hues as time progresses. Some or all of thelighting elements are “out of sync” in that the lighting elements, whileilluminating according to the same pattern, do so at different times. Itshould be understood that the pattern illustrated in FIG. 11 could beadapted for fewer or greater numbers of lighting elements. Also, thewaveforms could be altered to produce a different visual effect.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment 1200 of definitions for visual effectsthat may be used by a hazard detector, such as the hazard detectors ofFIGS. 1-6. Color definitions 1210, animation definitions 1220, and speeddefinitions 1230 may be stored by a hazard detector or may be accessibleby the hazard detector from some remote location, such as a cloud-basedserver (e.g., cloud-computing system 1564). Such definitions of colors,animations, and/or speeds may be provided to a user, such as in the formof a quick reference sheet or manual provided with a hazard detectorwhen purchased. As such, a user can learn or look-up the meaning of aparticular visual effect. Each color, animation, and speed may have anindividualized meaning. For instance, the speed of an animation may beused to indicate a level of urgency. Animation may be used to provide anacknowledgment (“OK”), an indication that attention is needed, and/orsome other status. Such an animation used in conjunction with a speedmay alert the user as to how urgent the status associated with theanimation is. Further, various colors may be incorporated to providemore information to a user, such as green for “OK”, yellow for“something may be wrong” or a warning, and red for “something isdefinitely wrong.” Other colors may be used for other forms of messages.Further, a separate color, such as white, may be used by the light forambient lighting provided by the hazard detector in certain situationsas previously detailed. As an example, if a battery is low but does notyet need to be replaced, the color may be yellow (“something may bewrong”), the animation may be “here's my status”, and the speed may beslow. If the battery is not replaced, the speed may transition to fastafter a time. Once the battery must be replaced, the color may be red(“something is definitely wrong”), the animation may be a circulation(“I need your attention”) and the speed may be fast (or alarm). As such,a battery may be checked against multiple voltage thresholds—the lowerthe voltage, the more urgent the presented status.

In some embodiments, color definitions 1210, animation definitions 1220,and speed definitions 1230 may be used independently to select a color,animation, and speed by the hazard detector based on a status check ofthe hazard detector. A look-up may be performed using color definitions1210, animation definitions 1220, and speed definitions 1230 to select acolor, animation, and speed that corresponds to the status determined bythe hazard detector. The color, animation, and/or speed selected fromcolor definitions 1210, animation definitions 1220, and/or speeddefinitions 1230 may be used by the hazard detector to output a statusvia a light of the hazard detector.

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment 1300 various combinations of visualeffects (also referred to as animations) and color that may be used by ahazard detector, such as the hazard detectors of FIGS. 1-6. Suchcombinations may be stored in the form of a look-up table by a hazarddetector or may be accessible via a network from a remote computerizeddevice, such as a cloud-based server system (e.g., cloud-computingsystem 1564). Once a status is determined by the hazard detector, atable such as presented in embodiment 1300 may be used to determine ananimation, color, and/or speed to use for outputting an indication ofthe status. Color 1301 may be red, color 1302 may be yellow, color 1303may be green, color 1304 may be blue, and color 1305 may be white. Othercolor assignments are also possible. Definitions of colors, visualeffects, and/or speeds may be stored by a hazard detector. In responseto a condition determined by the hazard detector during a status check,the processing system of the hazard detector may look up or otherwisedetermine the appropriate combination of colors, visual effect, and/orspeed to use to illuminate the light. The light may then be illuminatedaccording to the determined combination to convey information to one ormore users. Again here, definitions of colors and animations may beprovided to a user, such as in the form of a quick reference sheet ormanual provided with a hazard detector when purchased.

FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment 1400 of a user performing a gesturethat is detected by a hazard detector. User 1420 is performing a gestureof waving his hand in order to provide input to hazard detector 1410.Hazard detector 1410 may represent one of the previously detailed hazarddetectors, such as those detailed in relation to FIGS. 1 through 6. Thewave gesture being performed by user 1420 may consist of a single waveor multiple waves of the user's hand. While illustrated embodiment 1400focuses on a wave gesture, it should be understood that other forms ofgestures may be performed by user 1420 and detected by hazard detector1410. Hazard detector 1410 may monitor for a gesture being performed byuser 1420 for a predefined amount of time after information has beenpresented by a light of hazard detector 1410. For instance, if a lightof hazard detector 1410 has just presented status, for a predefinedperiod of time, such as 10 seconds, hazard detector 1410 may monitor fora gesture being performed by user 1420. If a gesture is detected withinthis predefined period of time, detail about the status presented by thelight of hazard detector 1410 may be provided. While the status wasinitially presented using the light, the further detail about the statusmay be presented using auditory information. For instance, a spokenmessage may be played aloud by hazard detector 1410. As an example, ifhazard detector 1410 outputs via the light a green pulsing status updateand user 1420 performs a wave gesture, a spoken message may be output byhazard detector 1410 saying “All components are functioning normally.”As another example, if hazard detector 1410 outputs via the light ayellow pulsing status update and user 1420 performs a wave gesture, aspoken message may be output by hazard detector 1410 saying “The batteryis low. Please replace the battery at your earliest convenience.”

As can be seen in embodiment 1400, it may be difficult for user 1420 tophysically reach hazard detector 1410. As such, for user 1420 toefficiently provide input to hazard detector 1410, a gesture may bepreferable to allow a user to provide input without having to physicallycontact hazard detector 1410. Hazard detector 1410 may have a lens thattargets motion detection to a conical region beneath hazard detector1410. Such targeting of gesture and motion detection may be preferableto avoid stray motions being interpreted as a gesture.

Hazard detectors (and other devices), as detailed herein, may beinstalled in a smart-home environment. FIG. 15 illustrates an example ofa smart-home environment 1500 within which one or more of the devices,methods, systems, services, and/or computer program products describedfurther herein can be applicable, such as the hazard detectors detailedin relation to FIGS. 1-6. The depicted smart-home environment 1500includes a structure 1550, which can include, e.g., a house, officebuilding, garage, or mobile home. It will be appreciated that devicescan also be integrated into a smart-home environment 1500 that does notinclude an entire structure 1550, such as an apartment, condominium, oroffice space. Further, the smart home environment can control and/or becoupled to devices outside of the actual structure 1550. Indeed, severaldevices in the smart home environment need not physically be within thestructure 1550 at all. For example, a device controlling a pool heateror irrigation system can be located outside of the structure 1550.

The depicted structure 1550 includes a plurality of rooms 1552,separated at least partly from each other via walls 1554. The walls 1554can include interior walls or exterior walls. Each room can furtherinclude a floor 1556 and a ceiling 1558. Devices can be mounted on,integrated with and/or supported by a wall 1554, floor 1556 or ceiling1558.

In some embodiments, the smart-home environment 1500 of FIG. 15 includesa plurality of devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing,network-connected devices, that can integrate seamlessly with each otherand/or with a central server or a cloud-computing system to provide anyof a variety of useful smart-home objectives. The smart-home environment1500 may include one or more intelligent, multi-sensing,network-connected thermostats 1502 (hereinafter referred to as “smartthermostats 1502”), one or more intelligent, network-connected, hazarddetectors 1504, and one or more intelligent, multi-sensing,network-connected entryway interface devices 1506 (hereinafter referredto as “smart doorbells 1506”). According to embodiments, the smartthermostat 1502 detects ambient climate characteristics (e.g.,temperature and/or humidity) and controls a HVAC system 1503accordingly. The hazard detector 1504 may detect the presence of ahazardous substance or a substance indicative of a hazardous substance(e.g., smoke, fire, or carbon monoxide). The smart doorbell 1506 maydetect a person's approach to or departure from a location (e.g., anouter door), control doorbell functionality, announce a person'sapproach or departure via audio or visual means, or control settings ona security system (e.g., to activate or deactivate the security systemwhen occupants go and come).

In some embodiments, the smart-home environment 1500 of FIG. 15 furtherincludes one or more intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected wallswitches 1508 (hereinafter referred to as “smart wall switches 1508”),along with one or more intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connectedwall plug interfaces 1510 (hereinafter referred to as “smart wall plugs1510”). The smart wall switches 1508 may detect ambient lightingconditions, detect room-occupancy states, and control a power and/or dimstate of one or more lights. In some instances, smart wall switches 1508may also control a power state or speed of a fan, such as a ceiling fan.The smart wall plugs 1510 may detect occupancy of a room or enclosureand control supply of power to one or more wall plugs (e.g., such thatpower is not supplied to the plug if nobody is at home).

Still further, in some embodiments, the smart-home environment 1500 ofFIG. 15 includes a plurality of intelligent, multi-sensing,network-connected appliances 1512 (hereinafter referred to as “smartappliances 1512”), such as refrigerators, stoves and/or ovens,televisions, washers, dryers, lights, stereos, intercom systems,garage-door openers, floor fans, ceiling fans, wall air conditioners,pool heaters, irrigation systems, security systems, and so forth.According to embodiments, the network-connected appliances 1512 are madecompatible with the smart-home environment by cooperating with therespective manufacturers of the appliances. For example, the appliancescan be space heaters, window AC units, motorized duct vents, etc. Whenplugged in, an appliance can announce itself to the smart-home network,such as by indicating what type of appliance it is, and it canautomatically integrate with the controls of the smart-home. Suchcommunication by the appliance to the smart home can be facilitated byany wired or wireless communication protocols known by those havingordinary skill in the art. The smart home also can include a variety ofnon-communicating legacy appliances 1540, such as old conventionalwasher/dryers, refrigerators, and the like which can be controlled,albeit coarsely (ON/OFF), by virtue of the smart wall plugs 1510. Thesmart-home environment 1500 can further include a variety of partiallycommunicating legacy appliances 1542, such as infrared (“IR”) controlledwall air conditioners or other IR-controlled devices, which can becontrolled by IR signals provided by the hazard detectors 1504 or thesmart wall switches 1508.

According to embodiments, the smart thermostats 1502, the hazarddetectors 1504, the smart doorbells 1506, the smart wall switches 1508,the smart wall plugs 1510, and other devices of the smart-homeenvironment 1500 are modular and can be incorporated into older and newhouses. For example, the devices are designed around a modular platformconsisting of two basic components: a head unit and a back plate, whichis also referred to as a docking station. Multiple configurations of thedocking station are provided so as to be compatible with any home, suchas older and newer homes. However, all of the docking stations include astandard head-connection arrangement, such that any head unit can beremovably attached to any docking station. Thus, in some embodiments,the docking stations are interfaces that serve as physical connectionsto the structure and the voltage wiring of the homes, and theinterchangeable head units contain all of the sensors, processors, userinterfaces, the batteries, and other functional components of thedevices.

The smart-home environment 1500 may also include communication withdevices outside of the physical home but within a proximate geographicalrange of the home. For example, the smart-home environment 1500 mayinclude a pool heater monitor 1514 that communicates a current pooltemperature to other devices within the smart-home environment 1500 orreceives commands for controlling the pool temperature. Similarly, thesmart-home environment 1500 may include an irrigation monitor 1516 thatcommunicates information regarding irrigation systems within thesmart-home environment 1500 and/or receives control information forcontrolling such irrigation systems. According to embodiments, analgorithm is provided for considering the geographic location of thesmart-home environment 1500, such as based on the zip code or geographiccoordinates of the home. The geographic information is then used toobtain data helpful for determining optimal times for watering; suchdata may include sun location information, temperature, due point, soiltype of the land on which the home is located, etc.

By virtue of network connectivity, one or more of the smart-home devicesof FIG. 15 can further allow a user to interact with the device even ifthe user is not proximate to the device. For example, a user cancommunicate with a device using a computer (e.g., a desktop computer,laptop computer, or tablet) or other portable electronic device (e.g., asmartphone) 1566. A webpage or app can be configured to receivecommunications from the user and control the device based on thecommunications and/or to present information about the device'soperation to the user. For example, the user can view a current setpointtemperature for a device and adjust it, using a computer. The user canbe in the structure during this remote communication or outside thestructure.

As discussed, users can control and interact with the smart thermostat,hazard detectors 1504, and other smart devices in the smart-homeenvironment 1500 using a network-connected computer or portableelectronic device 1566. In some examples, some or all of the occupants(e.g., individuals who live in the home) can register their electronicdevice 1566 with the smart-home environment 1500. Such registration canbe made at a central server to authenticate the occupant and/or thedevice as being associated with the home and to give permission to theoccupant to use the device to control the smart devices in the home. Anoccupant can use their registered electronic device 1566 to remotelycontrol the smart devices of the home, such as when the occupant is atwork or on vacation. The occupant may also use their registered deviceto control the smart devices when the occupant is actually locatedinside the home, such as when the occupant is sitting on a couch insidethe home. It should be appreciated that, instead of or in addition toregistering electronic devices 1566, the smart-home environment 1500makes inferences about which individuals live in the home and aretherefore occupants and which electronic devices 1566 are associatedwith those individuals. As such, the smart-home environment “learns” whois an occupant and permits the electronic devices 1566 associated withthose individuals to control the smart devices of the home.

In some embodiments, in addition to containing processing and sensingcapabilities, each of the devices 1502, 1504, 1506, 1508, 1510, 1512,1514, and 1516 (collectively referred to as “the smart devices”) iscapable of data communications and information sharing with any other ofthe smart devices, as well as to any central server or cloud-computingsystem or any other device that is network-connected anywhere in theworld. The required data communications can be carried out using any ofa variety of custom or standard wireless protocols (Wi-Fi, ZigBee,6LoWPAN, etc.) and/or any of a variety of custom or standard wiredprotocols (CAT6 Ethernet, HomePlug, etc.)

According to embodiments, all or some of the smart devices can serve aswireless or wired repeaters. For example, a first one of the smartdevices can communicate with a second one of the smart devices via awireless router 1560. The smart devices can further communicate witheach other via a connection to a network, such as the Internet 1599.Through the Internet 1599, the smart devices can communicate with acloud-computing system 1564, which can include one or more centralizedor distributed server systems. The cloud-computing system 1564 can beassociated with a manufacturer, support entity, or service providerassociated with the device. For one embodiment, a user may be able tocontact customer support using a device itself rather than needing touse other communication means such as a telephone or Internet-connectedcomputer. Further, software updates can be automatically sent fromcloud-computing system 1564 to devices (e.g., when available, whenpurchased, or at routine intervals).

According to embodiments, the smart devices combine to create a meshnetwork of spokesman and low-power nodes in the smart-home environment1500, where some of the smart devices are “spokesman” nodes and othersare “low-powered” nodes.

Some of the smart devices in the smart-home environment 1500 are batterypowered, while others have a regular and reliable power source, such asby connecting to wiring (e.g., to 120V line voltage wires) behind thewalls 1554 of the smart-home environment. The smart devices that have aregular and reliable power source are referred to as “spokesman” nodes.These nodes are equipped with the capability of using any wirelessprotocol or manner to facilitate bidirectional communication with any ofa variety of other devices in the smart-home environment 1500 as well aswith the cloud-computing system 1564. On the other hand, the devicesthat are battery powered are referred to as “low-power” nodes. Thesenodes tend to be smaller than spokesman nodes and can only communicateusing wireless protocols that require very little power, such as Zigbee,6LoWPAN, etc. Further, some, but not all, low-power nodes are incapableof bidirectional communication. These low-power nodes send messages, butthey are unable to “listen”. Thus, other devices in the smart-homeenvironment 1500, such as the spokesman nodes, cannot send informationto these low-power nodes.

As described, the smart devices serve as low-power and spokesman nodesto create a mesh network in the smart-home environment 1500. Individuallow-power nodes in the smart-home environment regularly send outmessages regarding what they are sensing, and the other low-powerednodes in the smart-home environment—in addition to sending out their ownmessages—repeat the messages, thereby causing the messages to travelfrom node to node (i.e., device to device) throughout the smart-homeenvironment 1500. The spokesman nodes in the smart-home environment 1500are able to “drop down” to low-powered communication protocols toreceive these messages, translate the messages to other communicationprotocols, and send the translated messages to other spokesman nodesand/or cloud-computing system 1564. Thus, the low-powered nodes usinglow-power communication protocols are able to send messages across theentire smart-home environment 1500 as well as over the Internet 1563 tocloud-computing system 1564. According to embodiments, the mesh networkenables cloud-computing system 1564 to regularly receive data from allof the smart devices in the home, make inferences based on the data, andsend commands back to one of the smart devices to accomplish some of thesmart-home objectives described herein.

As described, the spokesman nodes and some of the low-powered nodes arecapable of “listening.” Accordingly, users, other devices, andcloud-computing system 1564 can communicate controls to the low-powerednodes. For example, a user can use the portable electronic device (e.g.,a smartphone) 1566 to send commands over the Internet to cloud-computingsystem 1564, which then relays the commands to the spokesman nodes inthe smart-home environment 1500. The spokesman nodes drop down to alow-power protocol to communicate the commands to the low-power nodesthroughout the smart-home environment, as well as to other spokesmannodes that did not receive the commands directly from thecloud-computing system 1564.

An example of a low-power node is a smart nightlight 1570. In additionto housing a light source, the smart nightlight 1570 houses an occupancysensor, such as an ultrasonic or passive IR sensor, and an ambient lightsensor, such as a photoresistor or a single-pixel sensor that measureslight in the room. In some embodiments, the smart nightlight 1570 isconfigured to activate the light source when its ambient light sensordetects that the room is dark and when its occupancy sensor detects thatsomeone is in the room. In other embodiments, the smart nightlight 1570is simply configured to activate the light source when its ambient lightsensor detects that the room is dark. Further, according to embodiments,the smart nightlight 1570 includes a low-power wireless communicationchip (e.g., ZigBee chip) that regularly sends out messages regarding theoccupancy of the room and the amount of light in the room, includinginstantaneous messages coincident with the occupancy sensor detectingthe presence of a person in the room. As mentioned above, these messagesmay be sent wirelessly, using the mesh network, from node to node (i.e.,smart device to smart device) within the smart-home environment 1500 aswell as over the Internet 1599 to cloud-computing system 1564.

Other examples of low-powered nodes include battery-operated versions ofthe hazard detectors 1504. These hazard detectors 1504 are often locatedin an area without access to constant and reliable (e.g., structural)power and, as discussed in detail below, may include any number and typeof sensors, such as smoke/fire/heat sensors, carbon monoxide/dioxidesensors, occupancy/motion sensors, ambient light sensors, temperaturesensors, humidity sensors, and the like. Furthermore, hazard detectors1504 can send messages that correspond to each of the respective sensorsto the other devices and cloud-computing system 1564, such as by usingthe mesh network as described above.

Examples of spokesman nodes include smart doorbells 1506, smartthermostats 1502, smart wall switches 1508, and smart wall plugs 1510.These devices 1502, 1506, 1508, and 1510 are often located near andconnected to a reliable power source, and therefore can include morepower-consuming components, such as one or more communication chipscapable of bidirectional communication in any variety of protocols.

In some embodiments, the mesh network of low-powered and spokesman nodescan be used to provide exit lighting in the event of an emergency. Insome instances, to facilitate this, users provide pre-configurationinformation that indicates exit routes in the smart-home environment1500. For example, for each room in the house, the user provides a mapof the best exit route. It should be appreciated that instead of a userproviding this information, cloud-computing system 1564 or some otherdevice could automatically determine the routes using uploaded maps,diagrams, architectural drawings of the smart-home house, as well asusing a map generated based on positional information obtained from thenodes of the mesh network (e.g., positional information from the devicesis used to construct a map of the house). In operation, when an alarm isactivated (e.g., when one or more of the hazard detector 1504 detectssmoke and activates an alarm), cloud-computing system 1564 or some otherdevice uses occupancy information obtained from the low-powered andspokesman nodes to determine which rooms are occupied and then turns onlights (e.g., smart nightlights 1570, wall switches 1508, smart wallplugs 1510 that power lamps, etc.) along the exit routes from theoccupied rooms so as to provide emergency exit lighting.

Further included and illustrated in the exemplary smart-home environment1500 of FIG. 15 are service robots 1562 each configured to carry out, inan autonomous manner, any of a variety of household tasks. For someembodiments, the service robots 1562 can be respectively configured toperform floor sweeping, floor washing, etc. in a manner similar to thatof known commercially available devices such as the Roomba™ and Scooba™products sold by iRobot, Inc. of Bedford, Mass. Tasks such as floorsweeping and floor washing can be considered as “away” or “while-away”tasks for purposes of the instant description, as it is generally moredesirable for these tasks to be performed when the occupants are notpresent. For other embodiments, one or more of the service robots 1562are configured to perform tasks such as playing music for an occupant,serving as a localized thermostat for an occupant, serving as alocalized air monitor/purifier for an occupant, serving as a localizedbaby monitor, serving as a localized hazard detector for an occupant,and so forth, it being generally more desirable for such tasks to becarried out in the immediate presence of the human occupant. Forpurposes of the instant description, such tasks can be considered as“human-facing” or “human-centric” tasks.

When serving as a localized air monitor/purifier for an occupant, aparticular service robot 1562 can be considered to be facilitating whatcan be called a “personal health-area network” for the occupant, withthe objective being to keep the air quality in the occupant's immediatespace at healthy levels. Alternatively or in conjunction therewith,other health-related functions can be provided, such as monitoring thetemperature or heart rate of the occupant (e.g., using finely remotesensors, near-field communication with on-person monitors, etc.). Whenserving as a localized hazard detector for an occupant, a particularservice robot 1562 can be considered to be facilitating what can becalled a “personal safety-area network” for the occupant, with theobjective being to ensure there is no excessive carbon monoxide, smoke,fire, etc., in the immediate space of the occupant. Methods analogous tothose described above for personal comfort-area networks in terms ofoccupant identifying and tracking are likewise applicable for personalhealth-area network and personal safety-area network embodiments.

According to some embodiments, the above-referenced facilitation ofpersonal comfort-area networks, personal health-area networks, personalsafety-area networks, and/or other such human-facing functionalities ofthe service robots 1562, are further enhanced by logical integrationwith other smart sensors in the home according to rules-basedinferencing techniques or artificial intelligence techniques forachieving better performance of those human-facing functionalitiesand/or for achieving those goals in energy-conserving or otherresource-conserving ways. Thus, for one embodiment relating to personalhealth-area networks, the air monitor/purifier service robot 1562 can beconfigured to detect whether a household pet is moving toward thecurrently settled location of the occupant (e.g., using on-board sensorsand/or by data communications with other smart-home sensors along withrules-based inferencing/artificial intelligence techniques), and if so,the air purifying rate is immediately increased in preparation for thearrival of more airborne pet dander. For another embodiment relating topersonal safety-area networks, the hazard detector service robot 1562can be advised by other smart-home sensors that the temperature andhumidity levels are rising in the kitchen, which is nearby theoccupant's current dining room location, and responsive to thisadvisory, the hazard detector service robot 1562 will temporarily raisea hazard detection threshold, such as a smoke detection threshold, underan inference that any small increases in ambient smoke levels will mostlikely be due to cooking activity and not due to a genuinely hazardouscondition.

According to one embodiment, the user can be provided with a suite ofrelated smart-home devices, such as may be provided by a commonmanufacturer or group or badged to work with a common “ecosystem” ofthat manufacturer or group, wherein each of the devices, wherepracticable, provides a same or similarly triggered illumination-basednotification scheme and theme, such that the user can be readilyfamiliar with the status signals emitted by the variety of differentdevices without needing to learn a different scheme for each device.Thus, by way of example, there can be provided a suite of devicesincluding a security/automation hub, multiple door/window sensors, andmultiple hazard detectors, wherein each such device has a circularillumination ring that conveys triggered visual information according tothe themes and schemes described herein.

FIG. 16A illustrates a network-level view of an extensible devices andservices platform 1600A with which a plurality of smart-homeenvironments, such as the smart-home environment 1500 of FIG. 15, can beintegrated. The extensible devices and services platform 1600A includescloud-computing system 1564. Each of the intelligent, network-connecteddevices 1502, 1504, 1506, 1508, 1510, 1512, 1514, and 1516 from FIG. 15may communicate with cloud-computing system 1564. For example, aconnection to the Internet 1599 can be established either directly (forexample, using 3G/4G connectivity to a wireless carrier), through ahubbed network 1612 (which can be a scheme ranging from a simplewireless router, for example, up to and including an intelligent,dedicated whole-home control node), or through any combination thereof.

Although in some examples provided herein, the devices and servicesplatform 1600A communicates with and collects data from the smartdevices of smart-home environment 1500 of FIG. 15, it should beappreciated that the devices and services platform 1600A communicateswith and collects data from a plurality of smart-home environmentsacross the world. For example, cloud-computing system 1564 can collecthome data 1602 from the devices of one or more smart-home environments,where the devices can routinely transmit home data or can transmit homedata in specific instances (e.g., when a device queries the home data1602). Thus, the devices and services platform 1600A routinely collectsdata from homes across the world. As described, the collected home data1602 includes, for example, power consumption data, occupancy data, HVACsettings and usage data, carbon monoxide levels data, carbon dioxidelevels data, volatile organic compounds levels data, sleeping scheduledata, cooking schedule data, inside and outside temperature humiditydata, television viewership data, inside and outside noise level data,etc.

Cloud-computing system 1564 can further provide one or more services1604. The services 1604 can include, e.g., software updates, customersupport, sensor data collection/logging, remote access, remote ordistributed control, or use suggestions (e.g., based on collected homedata 1602 to improve performance, reduce utility cost, etc.). Dataassociated with the services 1604 can be stored at cloud-computingsystem 1564 and cloud-computing system 1564 can retrieve and transmitthe data at an appropriate time (e.g., at regular intervals, uponreceiving a request from a user, etc.).

As part of services 1604, user accounts may be maintained by thecloud-computing system 1564. The user account may store subscriptioninformation, billing information, registration information, userpreferences, and/or other data associated with various smart-homedevices, such as one or more hazard detectors, installed within astructure that is linked with a user account. Occasionally, attention ofa user to his or her user account may be requested. In response to aquery from hazard detector 1650 (or other smart-home device), a messagemay be transmitted by the cloud-computing system 1564 to hazard detector1650 (which may represent any of the previously described hazarddetectors) indicating that a status output by hazard detector 1650should indicate that a user is requested to log in to his or her useraccount. Further detail regarding the requested log may be transmittedby service 1604 to hazard detector 1650. For instance, the reason forthe requested login may be expired payment information (such as anexpired credit card). The user can request detail on a status output byhazard detector 1650, which may be presented to the user as a color andanimation output via a light of hazard detector 1650. The request fordetail may be by performing a gesture within the vicinity of hazarddetector 1650. A spoken message may then be output by hazard detector1650 indicating that the user is requested to log in to his account andmay also indicate the reason of the payment information needing to beupdated. As such, a status check performed by hazard detector 1650 maynot only check the status of hazard detector 1650 itself, but also thestate of a remotely-maintained user account.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, an embodiment of the extensible devices andservices platform 1600A includes a processing engine 1606, which can beconcentrated at a single server or distributed among several differentcomputing entities without limitation. The processing engine 1606 caninclude computerized engines (e.g., software executed by hardware)configured to receive data from devices of smart-home environments(e.g., via the Internet 1599 or a hubbed network), to index the data, toanalyze the data and/or to generate statistics based on the analysis oras part of the analysis. The analyzed data can be stored as derived homedata 1608.

Results of the analysis or statistics can thereafter be transmitted backto the device that provided home data used to derive the results, toother devices, to a server providing a webpage to a user of the device,or to other non-device entities. For example, use statistics, usestatistics relative to use of other devices, use patterns, and/orstatistics summarizing sensor readings can be generated by theprocessing engine 1606 and transmitted. The results or statistics can beprovided via the Internet 1599. In this manner, the processing engine1606 can be configured and programmed to derive a variety of usefulinformation from the home data 1602. A single server can include one ormore engines.

In some embodiments, to encourage innovation and research and toincrease products and services available to users, the devices andservices platform 1600A exposes a range of application programminginterfaces (APIs) 1610 to third parties, such as charities, governmentalentities (e.g., the Food and Drug Administration or the EnvironmentalProtection Agency), academic institutions (e.g., universityresearchers), businesses (e.g., providing device warranties or serviceto related equipment, targeting advertisements based on home data),utility companies, and other third parties. The APIs 1610 may be coupledto and permit third-party systems to communicate with cloud-computingsystem 1564, including the services 1604, the processing engine 1606,the home data 1602, and the derived home data 1608. For example, theAPIs 1610 allow applications executed by the third parties to initiatespecific data processing tasks that are executed by cloud-computingsystem 1564, as well as to receive dynamic updates to the home data 1602and the derived home data 1608.

Account alert engine may serve to determine whether a hazard detectorshould provide an indication that the user's account requires attention.For instance, account alert engine 1605 may periodically assess thestate of a user's account, such as whether settings need updating,whether payment information is up-to-date, whether one or more messagesare pending, whether payment is due, etc. If user attention is required,upon a request being received from a hazard detector and a look-up ofthe user's account being performed, account alert engine may respondwith an indication that the user account requires attention. Additionaldetail may also be provided such that if the user performs a gesture orotherwise requests additional detail, such detail can be provided, suchas via an auditory message. If user attention is not required, upon arequest being received from a hazard detector and a look-up of theuser's account being performed (e.g., by determining an accountassociated with the hazard detector from which the request wasreceived), account alert engine may respond with an indication that theuser account does not require attention.

FIG. 16B illustrates an abstracted functional view 1600B of theextensible devices and services platform 1600A of FIG. 16A, withparticular reference to the processing engine 1606 as well as devices,such as those of the smart-home environment 1500 of FIG. 15. Even thoughdevices situated in smart-home environments will have an endless varietyof different individual capabilities and limitations, they can all bethought of as sharing common characteristics in that each of them is adata consumer 1665 (DC), a data source 1666 (DS), a services consumer1667 (SC), and a services source 1668 (SS). Advantageously, in additionto providing the essential control information needed for the devices toachieve their local and immediate objectives, the extensible devices andservices platform 1600A can also be configured to harness the largeamount of data that is flowing out of these devices. In addition toenhancing or optimizing the actual operation of the devices themselveswith respect to their immediate functions, the extensible devices andservices platform 1600A can be directed to “repurposing” that data in avariety of automated, extensible, flexible, and/or scalable ways toachieve a variety of useful objectives. These objectives may bepredefined or adaptively identified based on, e.g., usage patterns,device efficiency, and/or user input (e.g., requesting specificfunctionality).

For example, FIG. 16B shows processing engine 1606 as including a numberof paradigms 1671. Processing engine 1606 can include a managed servicesparadigm 1671 a that monitors and manages primary or secondary devicefunctions. The device functions can include ensuring proper operation ofa device given user inputs, estimating that (e.g., and responding to aninstance in which) an intruder is or is attempting to be in a dwelling,detecting a failure of equipment coupled to the device (e.g., a lightbulb having burned out), implementing or otherwise responding to energydemand response events, or alerting a user of a current or predictedfuture event or characteristic. Processing engine 1606 can furtherinclude an advertising/communication paradigm 1671 b that estimatescharacteristics (e.g., demographic information), desires and/or productsof interest of a user based on device usage. Services, promotions,products or upgrades can then be offered or automatically provided tothe user. Processing engine 1606 can further include a social paradigm1671 c that uses information from a social network, provides informationto a social network (for example, based on device usage), and/orprocesses data associated with user and/or device interactions with thesocial network platform. For example, a user's status as reported totheir trusted contacts on the social network could be updated toindicate when they are home based on light detection, security systeminactivation or device usage detectors. As another example, a user maybe able to share device-usage statistics with other users. In yetanother example, a user may share HVAC settings that result in low powerbills and other users may download the HVAC settings to their smartthermostat 1502 to reduce their power bills.

The processing engine 1606 can include achallenges/rules/compliance/rewards paradigm 1671 d that informs a userof challenges, competitions, rules, compliance regulations and/orrewards and/or that uses operation data to determine whether a challengehas been met, a rule or regulation has been complied with and/or areward has been earned. The challenges, rules or regulations can relateto efforts to conserve energy, to live safely (e.g., reducing exposureto toxins or carcinogens), to conserve money and/or equipment life, toimprove health, etc. For example, one challenge may involve participantsturning down their thermostat by one degree for one week. Those thatsuccessfully complete the challenge are rewarded, such as by coupons,virtual currency, status, etc. Regarding compliance, an example involvesa rental-property owner making a rule that no renters are permitted toaccess certain owner's rooms. The devices in the room having occupancysensors could send updates to the owner when the room is accessed.

The processing engine 1606 can integrate or otherwise utilize extrinsicinformation 1673 from extrinsic sources to improve the functioning ofone or more processing paradigms. Extrinsic information 1673 can be usedto interpret data received from a device, to determine a characteristicof the environment near the device (e.g., outside a structure that thedevice is enclosed in), to determine services or products available tothe user, to identify a social network or social-network information, todetermine contact information of entities (e.g., public-service entitiessuch as an emergency-response team, the police or a hospital) near thedevice, etc., to identify statistical or environmental conditions,trends or other information associated with a home or neighborhood, andso forth.

An extraordinary range and variety of benefits can be brought about by,and fit within the scope of, the described extensible devices andservices platform 1600A, ranging from the ordinary to the profound.Thus, in one “ordinary” example, each bedroom of the smart-homeenvironment 1500 can be provided with a smart wall switch 1508, a smartwall plug 1510, and/or smart hazard detectors 1504, all or some of whichinclude an occupancy sensor, wherein the occupancy sensor is alsocapable of inferring (e.g., by virtue of motion detection, facialrecognition, audible sound patterns, etc.) whether the occupant isasleep or awake. If a serious fire event is sensed, the remotesecurity/monitoring service or fire department is advised of how manyoccupants there are in each bedroom, and whether those occupants arestill asleep (or immobile) or whether they have properly evacuated thebedroom. While this is, of course, a very advantageous capabilityaccommodated by the described extensible devices and services platform,there can be substantially more “profound” examples that can trulyillustrate the potential of a larger “intelligence” that can be madeavailable. By way of perhaps a more “profound” example, the same bedroomoccupancy data that is being used for fire safety can also be“repurposed” by the processing engine 1606 in the context of a socialparadigm of neighborhood child development and education. Thus, forexample, the same bedroom occupancy and motion data discussed in the“ordinary” example can be collected and made available (properlyanonymized) for processing in which the sleep patterns of schoolchildrenin a particular ZIP code can be identified and tracked. Localizedvariations in the sleeping patterns of the schoolchildren may beidentified and correlated, for example, to different nutrition programsin local schools.

Various methods may be performed using the systems, devices, and otherembodiments detailed in relation to FIGS. 1 through 16. For instance,methods may be performed by the hazard detectors detailed in relation toFIGS. 1 through 6. FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment of a method 1700for outputting a status of a hazard detector. Method 1700 representsvarious blocks which may be performed by a hazard detector, such as thehazard detector and/or other devices detailed in relation to FIGS. 1through 6.

At block 1710, a lighting condition in the ambient environment of ahazard detector may be analyzed. Such analysis may include thecollection of one or more measurements of a brightness level in theambient environment of the hazard detector. A hazard detector may haveone or more onboard light sensors that detect a level of brightness inthe ambient environment of the hazard detector. The lighting conditionin the ambient environment of the hazard detector may be affected byartificial lighting and/or natural lighting. An indication of thelighting condition may be provided by the one or more light sensors ofthe hazard detector to a processing system, which may include one ormore processors, of the hazard detector. In some embodiments, thelighting condition in the ambient environment of the hazard detector maybe analyzed directly by the lighting sensor, such as via an integratedprocessor. Means for performing block 1710 may generally include ahazard detector. More specifically, means for performing block 1710 mayinclude one or more processing devices, such as processors, and one ormore light sensors.

At block 1720, the lighting condition analyzed at block 1710 may becompared with a threshold brightness level value stored by the hazarddetector. This comparison may be used to determine that the lightingcondition is indicative of a brightness level in the ambient environmentthat has reached the threshold brightness level. In some embodiments,the determination of block 1720 may involve determining that thebrightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector hasdecreased to, or fallen below, the threshold brightness level. As such,in some embodiments, block 1720 can be understood as determining that afalling edge of brightness within the ambient environment of the hazarddetector has met the threshold brightness level. Means for performingblock 1720 may generally include a hazard detector. More specifically,means for performing block 1720 may include one or more processingdevices, such as processors, and a storage medium, such as to store thethreshold brightness level.

At block 1730, a status check of one or more components of the hazarddetector may be performed. In some embodiments, the status checkperformed as part of block 1730 is performed in response to block 1720;that is, the status check can be performed in response to determiningthat the lighting condition is indicative of the brightness level in theambient environment of the hazard detector falling to the thresholdbrightness level. In other embodiments, the status check is performedindependent of block 1720; that is, the status check is not dependent ondetermining that the lighting condition in the ambient environment ofthe hazard detector has reached the threshold brightness level. Thestatus check performed at block 1730 may involving checking a status oneor more components of the hazard detector. For instance, the statuscheck may check a battery charge level of the hazard detector. Thebattery charge level may be compared to multiple threshold voltagelevels. Such multiple levels may be used to assess whether: the batteryhas a sufficient charge level, the battery charge level is low (but doesnot need replacement yet), or the battery needs replacement immediately.The status check may check the functionality of one or more sensors ofthe hazard detector, such as a smoke sensor and/or a carbon monoxidesensor. In some embodiments, the status check involves checking anexpiration date of one or more sensors of the hazard detector and/or ofthe hazard detector itself. For instance, smoke detectors and/or carbonmonoxide detectors may be required by law to expire after a predefinedamount of time, such as seven years. The status check of block 1730 mayinvolve determining whether a structure power source, if installed andconnected, is providing power. The status check of block 1730 mayinvolve checking the status of a user account maintained remotely fromthe hazard detector. This may involve transmitting a request to a remoteserver, such as detailed in relation to FIGS. 15, 16A, and 16B, todetermine the status of the user account. If the user account requiresattention, the hazard detector may receive a message indicating as such,possibly with one or more details about the nature of the status, inresponse to the transmitted request. The status check performed at block1730 may check whether a test of the hazard detector has been performedwithin a predefined amount of time. For instance, it may be desirable toprovide a user with a warning if it has been more than some amount oftime, such as a week a month, since a user last performed a test of thehazard detector (e.g., test that the audible alarms sound). A test maybe different from status check in that a test may audibly sound one ormore alarms of the hazard detector and/or may test the functionality ofone or more sensors present on the hazard detector. Means for performingblock 1730 may generally include a hazard detector. More specifically,means for performing block 1720 may include one or more processingdevices, such as processors, and one or more components to be tested,such as one or more instances of the various components detailed inrelation to hazard detector 200. Means for performing block 1730 mayfurther include a remote server and one or more networks to communicatewith the remote server.

At block 1740, an illumination state that is based on the status checkmay be selected. The illumination state may include one or more colors,an animation, and/or speed to illuminate a light of the hazard detector.As previously detailed, the light may include one or more lightingelements, such as LEDs. Such an arrangement may permit animations andmultiple colors to be presented by the light simultaneously. A lookuptable or other storage arrangement of definitions of illumination statesassociated with results of status checks may be stored by the hazarddetector. For example, lookup tables corresponding to FIGS. 12 and 13may be used to determine the appropriate illumination state to bepresented by the hazard detector in response to a status check.Similarly, information presented in such lookup tables may be providedto users, such as in the form of the user manual or quick referenceguide such to allow the user to interpret the various illuminationstates. The result of the status check performed at block 1730 may beused to determine the proper illumination state to be selected at block1740. Means for performing block 1740 may generally include a hazarddetector. More specifically, means for performing block 1740 may includeone or more processing devices, such as processors, and a storagemedium, such as to store the definitions of various illumination states.

At block 1750, the light of the hazard detector may be illuminated basedon the illumination state selected at block 1740. In some embodiments,the performance of block 1750 is contingent on block 1720. That is,while the status check performed at block 1730 may not be contingent ondetermining that the lighting condition in the ambient environment ofthe hazard detector has reached the threshold brightness level,illumination of the light using the illumination state indicative of theresults of the status check may be based on the lighting condition inthe ambient environment of the hazard detector reaching the thresholdbrightness level. Stated another way, the brightness level in theambient environment of the hazard detector may be used to determine whento present the results of the status check but not when to perform thestatus check. In other embodiments, such as embodiments in which thestatus check of block 1730 is performed in response to block 1720, theillumination of block 1750 may occur in response to blocks 1730 and 1740being performed.

The illumination of block 1750 may occur for a predefined period oftime. For example, the light may be illuminated for periods of timeranging from 1 to 5 seconds, or some other period of time. In someembodiments, the light fades on for one second, presents an illuminationstate for one second, then fades off for one second. It should beunderstood that by waiting for the lighting condition in the ambientenvironment of the hazard detector to decrease to the thresholdbrightness level, a user may be more likely to view the illuminationstate at block 1750 because the ambient environment of the hazarddetector is darkened (as compared to a previous lighting condition ofthe ambient environment). As an example, a likely situation where a usermay view the illuminated light at block 1750 is when shutting off anartificial light source in a room in which the hazard detector islocated. The light may be more likely to illuminate at night if naturallight enters the room by day. Therefore, the user may typically view theillumination indicative of the status test in the evening when shuttingoff an artificial light. Means for performing block 1750 may generallyinclude a hazard detector. More specifically, means for performing block1750 may include one or more processing devices, such as processors, andone or more lights, which may each include one or more lightingelements.

FIG. 18 illustrates an embodiment of a method 1800 for outputting astatus of a hazard detector. Method 1800 may represent an alternate ormore detailed embodiment of method 1700. Method 1800 represents variousblocks which may be performed by a hazard detector, such as the hazarddetector and/or other devices detailed in relation to FIGS. 1 through 6.

Blocks 1810 and 1820 may be performed similarly to blocks 1710 and 1720of method 1700, respectively. Means for performing such blocks maygenerally include a hazard detector. More specifically, means forperforming such blocks may include one or more processing devices, suchas processors, one or more light sensors, and one or more storagemediums.

At block 1830, a determination may be made as to whether at least athreshold period of time has elapsed since: a previous status check, aprevious illumination of a light of the hazard detector indicative ofthe status, and/or a previous determination that the lighting conditionis indicative of a brightness level in the ambient environment of thehazard detector dropping below a threshold brightness level. Block 1830may be used to ensure that status checks or the output of illuminationstates indicative of the result of status checks do not occur overlyfrequently. For example, it may be desired that the threshold period oftime be one month, one week, one day, ten hours, five hours, an hour,ten minutes, one minute, or some other period of time between the listedperiods of time. In a likely situation, it may be desirable for a statuscheck to be performed and/or the result of the status check to presentedonce per day. Such a restriction may help preserve battery charge and/orprevent a user from being annoyed by overly frequently presentedstatuses. Means for performing block 1830 may generally include a hazarddetector. More specifically, means for performing block 1830 may includeone or more processing devices, such as a processor and one or morestorage mediums.

At block 1840, the status check may be performed. The status check ofblock 1840 may be performed similarly to block 1730 of method 1700. Ifperformance of the status check is contingent on the lighting conditionindicative of the brightness level in the ambient environment falling toa threshold brightness level, the performance of the status check may beadditionally contingent on block 1830 determining that at least thethreshold period of time has elapsed since the previous status check.Means for performing block 1840 may generally include a hazard detector.More specifically, means for performing block 1840 may include one ormore processing devices, such as processors, and one or more componentsto be tested, such as one or more instances of the various componentsdetailed in relation to hazard detector 200 of FIG. 2.

At block 1850, the hazard detector may transmit a message to a remoteserver to check a status of an account held by a user, the hazarddetector having previously been added to and linked with a user account.For instance, the user account may be used to manage multiple smart homedevices, including the hazard detector, that are installed within aparticular home or other form of structure. The message may be sent tothe remote server roughly periodically (e.g., once per day, once perweek), or may occur in response to a condition occurring, such as block1840 being performed, block 1830 being performed, and/or block 1820being performed. In response to the message, the remote server (whichmay be part of cloud-computing system 1564 of FIG. 15) may check thestatus of the user account associated with the hazard detector. Checkingthe status of the user account may include: checking if the last loginby the user was within a predefined period of time, checking if anymessages are pending for viewing by the user, checking if the user'spayment information is valid, checking if any offers are waiting forreview by the user, checking if any settings or preferences require theuser's attention, checking if a new end-user agreement (or otherdocument) needs to be reviewed by the user, and/or checking if any otherform of matter requires the user's attention. In some embodiments, theremote server may occasionally push a status of the user's account tothe hazard detector without receiving a request from the hazarddetector. Means for performing block 1850 may generally include a hazarddetector. More specifically, means for performing block 1850 may includeone or more processing devices, such as processors, a wirelesscommunication module, one or more networks, and/or a remote server.

At block 1860, an illumination state may be selected based on the statuscheck of block 1840 and the account status retrieved at block 1850. Theillumination state may include one or more colors, an animation, and/orspeed to illuminate a light of the hazard detector. As previouslydetailed, the light may include one or more lighting elements, such asLEDs. Such an arrangement may permit animations and multiple colors tobe presented by the light simultaneously. A lookup table or otherstorage arrangement of definitions of illumination states associatedwith results of status checks may be stored by the hazard detector. Forexample, lookup tables corresponding to FIGS. 12 and 13 may be used todetermine the appropriate illumination state to be presented by thehazard detector in response to a status check. Similarly, informationpresented in such lookup tables may be provided to user, such as in theform of the user manual or quick reference guide such to allow the userto interpret the illumination state. The result of the status checkperformed at block 1840 and the account status of block 1850 may be usedto determine the proper illumination state to be selected at block 1860.Means for performing block 1860 may generally include a hazard detector.More specifically, means for performing block 1860 may include one ormore processing devices, such as processors, and a storage medium, suchas to store the definitions of various illumination states.

At block 1870, the light may be illuminated according to theillumination state selected at block 1860. In some embodiments, theperformance of block 1870 is contingent on the determinations of blocks1820 and 1830. That is, while the status check performed at block 1840may not be contingent on determining that the lighting condition in theambient environment of the hazard detector has reached the thresholdbrightness level (or that the predefined period of time has elapsed),illumination of the light using the illumination state indicative of theresults of the status check (and/or account status) may be based on thelighting condition in the ambient environment of the hazard detectorreaching the threshold brightness level and the threshold period of timehaving elapsed. Stated another way, the brightness level in the ambientenvironment of the hazard detector and the predefined period of timehaving elapsed may be used to determine when to present the results ofthe status check (which may include the account status check) but notwhen to perform the status check. In other embodiments, block 1870 maybe performed in response to blocks 1840, 1850, and/or 1860 beingcompleted. Means for performing block 1860 may generally include ahazard detector. More specifically, means for performing block 1860 mayinclude one or more processing devices, such as processors, and one ormore lights, which may each include one or more lighting elements.

While methods 1700 and 1800 of FIGS. 17 and 18, respectively, arefocused on hazard detectors, such methods may be applied to devices andsystems other than hazard detectors. FIG. 19 illustrates an embodimentof a method 1900 for performing a function in response to an unrelatedenvironmental characteristic. Method 1900 represents various blockswhich may be performed by a system or device, which may or may not be ahazard detector. For example, the device or system may be a deviceconfigured to sense or monitor a situation, such as temperature,humidity, motion, etc. Each block of method 1900 may be performed bysuch a device.

At block 1910, an environment may be monitored for the presence of atrigger event. The environment may be monitored in the vicinity of thedevice performing method 1900. For instance, the device may have one ormore sensors installed that are configured to measure a characteristicpresent in the environment. This collected data may be monitored for thestored, predefined trigger event. Examples include: monitoring for atemperature, monitoring for a humidity, monitoring for a brightness,monitoring for motion, etc. In some embodiments, the trigger event maybe received from a remote device or system, such as via a wirelessnetwork connection. Means for performing block 1910 may generallyinclude a device or system such as in FIG. 3. More specifically, meansfor performing block 1910 may include one or more processing devices,such as processors, and an event detection module, which may include oneor more types of sensors.

At block 1920, a predefined trigger event may be determined to haveoccurred in the environment. Monitoring the environment at block 1910may have resulted in data being gathered that indicates the predefinedtrigger event, of which a definition is stored by the system, isdetermined to have occurred. Examples include: the monitored temperaturehaving reached a threshold temperature, the monitored humidity havingreached a humidity threshold, the monitored brightness having reached abrightness threshold, motion being determined to have occurred, etc.Means for performing block 1920 may generally include a device or systemsuch as in FIG. 3. More specifically, means for performing block 1920may include one or more processing devices, such as processors, an eventdetection module, which may include one or more types of sensors, and aprocessor-readable medium, to store a definition of the predefinedtrigger event.

At block 1930, a function may be performed. The function performed atblock 1930 may be performed in response to the predefined trigger eventdetermining to occurred. In other embodiments, the function performed atblock 1930 may occur according to a predefined schedule or contingent onthe occurrence of some event other than the trigger event of block 1920.Means for performing block 1930 may generally include a device or systemsuch as in FIG. 3. More specifically, means for performing block 1930may include one or more processing devices, such as processors, and afunction component (which, in some embodiments, may be the one or moreprocessing devices).

It should be understood that the function of block 1930 may be whollyunrelated to the trigger event of block 1920. For instance, the triggerevent of block 1920 may be selected based on an event that will likelycorrespond to a time when a user desires to view a status of a function.For example, the function of block 1930 may be a self-test, status checkof the device performing method 1900, or some other form of function.The predefined trigger event for which the environment is monitored atblock 1910 and which is determined to have occurred at block 1920, maybe wholly unrelated to this self-test and/or status check. As such, thetrigger event may be selected based on its likely correlation to a timeat which a user would desire information about the results of afunction, regardless of whether the function is performed in response tothe trigger event or not.

At block 1940, an indication may be output based on the performedfunction. Output at block 1940 may be contingent on the predefinedtrigger event having occurred as determined at block 1920. Accordingly,an output that is based on the performed function may be output inresponse to the predefined trigger event having occurred, which may bewholly unrelated to the function itself. An example of this may be seenin various embodiments of methods 1700 and 1800. In some embodiments, astatus of a hazard detector is output in response to a lightingcondition present in the environment of the hazard detector. Such alighting condition may be wholly unrelated to the status of the hazarddetector (that is, brightness may have no effect on the status). Inother embodiments, such as embodiments in which the function of block1930 is performed in response to block 1920, block 1940 may be performedin response to block 1930 having been performed. The indication outputat block 1940 may be indicative of a result of the function of block1930. The output of block 1940 may include light and/or sound. Forexample, the output may be a combination of a color of the light,animation, and/or speed. Sound output may include a ring, tone, orspoken message. Other forms of output are of course possible, such asvibration, a printed message, or a transmission of a wireless message.Means for performing block 1940 may generally include a device or systemsuch as in FIG. 3. More specifically, means for performing block 1940may include one or more processing devices, such as processors, and anoutput module (which, in some embodiments, may include a speaker and/ora light, which can have one or more lighting elements, a vibrationdevice, a printer, etc.).

Following any of methods 1700 through 1900 being performed, it may bedesirable to monitor for user input to determine if a user desires moreinformation on a status (or other information) output by the hazarddetector or other form of system or device. FIG. 20 illustrates anembodiment of method 2000 for providing detail about a status inresponse to user input. Method 2000 may be performed by a hazarddetector following performing one of methods 1700 through 1900 or someother method for outputting a condition or status of the hazarddetector. Each block of method 2000 may be performed by a hazarddetector.

Block 2010 may represent the conclusion of methods 1700 through 1900.For instance block 2010 may represent block 1750 of method 1700, block1870 of method 1800, and/or block 1940 of method 1900. Block 2010 mayalso represent some other indication of a status being output. Forinstance, in some embodiments, block 2010 may be performed without atleast one of methods 1700 through 1900 being performed.

At block 2020, the hazard detector or other device may monitor for userinput following the indication of the status being output at block 2010.In some embodiments, block 2020 may be triggered by some other conditionoccurring. For instance, the lighting condition reaching a brightnesslevel in the ambient environment of the hazard detector that matches oris below the threshold brightness level may serve as a trigger for block2020 or block 2010 may trigger block 2020. Monitoring for user input mayinclude activating one or more sensors that are configured to monitorfor user input. For example, a motion sensor or similar component may beactivated for block 2020 to monitor for a gesture being performed byuser. Such a gesture may be one or multiple waves by a user. Such asensor may only be enabled to monitor for the gesture for up to apredefined period of time in order to conserve power, which may beespecially useful in a battery-powered device. If the user input isdetected, the sensor may be disabled because no immediate future userinput needs to be monitored for. Means for performing block 2020 maygenerally include a hazard detector (or other form of device). Morespecifically, means for performing block 2020 may include one or moreprocessing devices, such as processors, and one or more sensors, such asa motion sensor.

Method 2000 may proceed to block 2040 if no user input is received atblock 2020. If user input is received at block 2020, method 2000 mayproceed to block 2030. For instance, method 2000 may proceed to block2030 if a user performs a wave gesture at block 2020 that is detected bythe hazard detector. At block 2030, in response to user input beingdetected or otherwise received, one or more details regarding the statuspreviously output at block 2010 may be provided; the one or more detailsprovided at block 2030 may be provided via a different mode than thestatus of block 2010. For example, the status output at block 2010 mayhave been in the form of light, such as the previously described colors,animations, and/or speeds of lighting elements. The output of one ormore status details of block 2030 may be via a different mode, such asan audio-based message. In some embodiments, the one or more statusdetails of block 2030 are output in the form of the spoken message. Thismay involve the hazard detector retrieving, either from a local storagemedium or from a remote server, a recorded message to be played via aspeaker to the user. While the detail is being output, the status outputat block 2020 may also be output, such that the status is in the form oflight and the detail is in the form of audio. Means for performing block2030 may generally include a hazard detector (or other form of device).More specifically, means for performing block 2030 may include one ormore processing devices, such as processors, and one or more audiooutput devices, such as a speaker. It should be understood, that the oneor more status details output at block 2030 may be output in some formatother than audio. For instance, if the hazard detector has a screen, awritten message or graphical indicator may be presented in addition toor alternatively to an auditory message.

As an example, at block 2010, a yellow illuminated status may be outputto the user. The user may see the status in the form of a color andanimation output by a light of a hazard detector and may understand thatthe hazard detector requires some form of attention; however the usermay be unsure exactly what aspect of the hazard detector requiresattention. If the user does not wish to deal with the situationpresently, the user may simply not provide any input, such as a gesture.However, if the user is interested in learning one or more details as towhat aspect of the hazard detector requires attention, the user mayprovide input, such as by pushing a button on the hazard detector orperforming a gesture, such as one or more wave gestures during thepredefined period of time for which the hazard detector is monitoringfor user input. In response to the user providing the input, an auditorymessage containing one or more details about the status may be output bythe hazard detector. For instance, the message may state: “My battery islow. Please replace at your earliest convenience.” Following such amessage being output, the user may understand the detailed aspect of thehazard detector that requires attention: the battery needs to bereplaced. It should be understood that the same indication of the statusmay be output for various conditions of the hazard detector. In someembodiments, only by the user providing input in response to the statuscan the user learn precisely the aspect of the hazard detector thatrequires attention.

Regardless of whether user input was or was not received at block 2020,at block 2040, the hazard detector may continue to monitor for one ormore hazards. Such hazards may include the monitoring for smoke and/orcarbon monoxide. Further, monitoring for such hazards may occurthroughout method 2000. Regardless of the portion of method 2000 beingperformed, a primary function of the hazard detector may be to continueto monitor for such hazards. As such, if a hazard is detected at anypoint during method 2000, method 2000 may be interrupted and anappropriate alarm may sound. Means for performing block 2040 maygenerally include a hazard detector (or other form of device). Morespecifically, means for performing block 2040 may include one or moreprocessing devices, such as processors, and one or more sensors, such assmoke and/or carbon monoxide sensors.

FIG. 21 illustrates an embodiment of a method 2100 for providing detailabout a status in response to user input. Method 2000 may be performedby a hazard detector following performing one of methods 1700 through1900 or some other method for presenting a condition or status of thehazard detector. Each block of method 2000 may be performed by a hazarddetector. Method 2000 may represent a more detailed embodiment of method2000 of FIG. 20.

Block 2110 may represent the conclusion of methods 1700 through 1900.Block 2110 may require that a light of the hazard detector beilluminated according to an illumination state, the illumination statemay be indicative of a status of the hazard detector. For instance,block 2110 may represent block 1750 of method 1700, block 1870 of method1800, and/or block 1940 of method 1900. Block 2110 may also representsome other indication of a status being output. For instance, in someembodiments, block 2110 may be performed without at least one of methods1700 through 1900 being performed.

At block 2120, one or more motion detector sensors may be activated forup to a predefined period of time. In some embodiments, the one or moremotion detector sensors are continuously or at least already activated.Whether a motion detector needs to be activated at block 2120 may bedependent on whether the hazard detector is powered by a battery or viaa structure power source. For instance, if powered by a battery, it maybe desirable to conserve power such as to increase the longevity of thebattery's life.

At block 2130, the hazard detector or other device may monitor for agesture being performed by a user following the indication of the statusbeing output at block 2110. In some embodiments, block 2130 may betriggered by some other condition occurring. For instance, the lightingcondition reaching (e.g., decreasing to) a brightness level in theambient environment of the hazard detector that matches or is below thethreshold brightness level may serve as a trigger for block 2130.Monitoring for a gesture may include monitoring the output of the motiondetection sensor for a specific gesture, such as a wave gesture, beingperformed once or more than once (for instance, multiple waves may berequired). If the gesture is detected, the sensor may be disabledbecause no immediate future user input needs to be monitored for. Meansfor performing block 2130 may generally include a hazard detector (orother form of device). More specifically, means for performing block2130 may include one or more processing devices, such as processors, andone or more sensors, such as a motion sensor.

At block 2140, it may be determined if the gesture which is beingmonitored at block 2130 has been performed. If not, method 2140 mayproceed to block 2160. If the gesture has been determined to beperformed, method 2100 may proceed to block 2150. Means for performingblock 2130 may generally include a hazard detector (or other form ofdevice). More specifically, means for performing block 2140 may includeone or more processing devices, such as processors.

Blocks 2150 and 2160 may be performed similarly to blocks 2030 and 2040of method 2000. As such, if the gesture is detected, the user isprovided one or more details regarding the status of the hazarddetector. If the gesture is not detected, the hazard detector continuesmonitoring for hazards without outputting one or more status details.

FIG. 22 illustrates an embodiment of a method 2200 for outputting astatus based on user input and the criticality of the status. Method2200 may represent an alternate or more detailed embodiment of methods1700, 1800, 2000, or 2100. Method 2200 represents various blocks whichmay be performed by a hazard detector, such as the hazard detectorand/or other devices detailed in relation to FIGS. 1 through 6. Itshould be understood that blocks of method 2200 may be performed as partof other methods detailed in relation to FIGS. 17-20.

At block 2205, a status check of one or more components of the hazarddetector may be performed. In some embodiments, the status checkperformed as part of block 2205 is performed in response to other blocksbeing performed, such as block 1720 (and, thus block 1710) of method1700. Block 2205 may result in a similar analysis as is discussed inrelation to block 1730. The status check of block 2205 may be divided upinto an analysis of critical and non-critical status checks.Non-critical status checks may include determining if the battery isbelow a first threshold charge level, a message being present at aremote server in association with a user account linked with the hazarddetector, the hazard detector is disconnected from the Internet (and waspreviously connected), the hazard detector is disconnected from astructure's power supply (and was previously connected), and/or someother problem occurred (an alphanumeric code may be assigned to suchother problems). Critical status checks may include determining if thehazard detector has expired, determining if a hazard sensor has failed,and/or determining if the battery charge level is below a secondthreshold (which is representative of a lower charge level than thefirst threshold associated with the non-critical battery charge level).

If at block 2210, no status check results in a critical or non-criticalstatus having a negative result, method 2200 may proceed to block 2215.At this block, a visual indication of there being no critical ornon-critical status may be output, such as a green illumination of thelight of the hazard detector using a calm animation, such as a pulseanimation. Following block 2215, the hazard detector may not monitor foruser input, such as a button press or gesture relevant to the status,and may proceed to block 2220 to continue to monitor for hazards.

If at block 2210, a status check results in a critical or non-criticalstatus having a negative result (e.g., a sensor fails, the battery islow, Internet connectivity is lost, etc.), method 2200 may proceed toblock 2225. At block 2225, if the status check resulted in a criticalstatus, method 2200 may proceed to block 2235. At block 2235, anauditory warning status indicative of the critical status may be output.The auditory warning status may include a synthesized or recorded spokenmessage. The warning message may be accompanied by illumination of thehazard detector's light using a color indicative of a warning, such asyellow. An animation, such as a fast pulsing of the yellow light may beused to alert the user to the dangerous situation.

Returning to block 2225, if the status check resulted in a non-criticalstatus, method 2200 may proceed to block 2230. At block 2230, a purelyvisual warning status indicative of the non-critical status may beoutput. The warning status may be illumination of the hazard detector'slight using a color indicative of a warning, such as yellow. Ananimation, such as a slow pulsing of the yellow light may be used toalert the user to the quasi-dangerous situation. To learn the exactnon-critical warning, the user may be required to provide user input.

At block 2240, user input, such as in the form of a button press of thehazard detector (or actuation of some other physical device on thehazard detector) or by a gesture being performed, may be monitored forby the hazard detector for up to a predefined period of time. Forexample, the hazard detector may monitor for input in response to theoutput status at blocks 2230 or 2235 for thirty seconds. If the user'spresence is detected, the light of the hazard detector may be lit toindicate such presence, such as by illuminated or pulsing blue. At block2245, it may be determined if input has been received. If no, method2200 may proceed to block 2220. If yes, block 2250 may be performed.

At block 2250, the critical and/or non-critical statuses may be outputvia an auditory message. Such a message may include recorded orsynthesized speech being output by the hazard detector. If the statuswas non-critical, block 2250 may be the first time the status is outputvia audio. If the status is critical, block 2250 may represent at leastthe second time the status is output via audio (due to block 2235). Theauditory output may be accompanied by illumination of the hazarddetector's light using a color indicative of a warning, such as yellow.An animation, such as a slow (for non-critical statuses) or fast (forcritical statues) pulsing of the yellow light may be used to alert theuser to the statues. Following block 2250, method 2200 may return toblock 2245 to see if any additional user input is received, such as ifthe user wants the statuses to be repeated. Whether a gesture or abutton push was performed by the user while block 2240 was beingperformed may alter how the hazard detector's light is lit at block2250. For instance, if a button press was received at block 2240, thelight may be lit blue and pulsed at a fast speed; if a gesture wasdetected at block 2240, the light may output a yellow wave animation(which may serve as an acknowledgement that the gesture was detected).

With reference to FIG. 23, an embodiment of a special-purpose computersystem 2300 is shown. For example, one or more intelligent components,processing engine 206 and components thereof may be a special-purposecomputer system 2300. Such a special-purpose computer system 2300 may beincorporated as part of a hazard detector and/or any of the othercomputerized devices discussed herein, such as a remote server, smartthermostat, or network. The above methods may be implemented bycomputer-program products that direct a computer system to perform theactions of the above-described methods and components. Each suchcomputer-program product may comprise sets of instructions (codes)embodied on a computer-readable medium that direct the processor of acomputer system to perform corresponding actions. The instructions maybe configured to run in sequential order, or in parallel (such as underdifferent processing threads), or in a combination thereof. Afterloading the computer-program products on a general purpose computersystem 2326, it is transformed into the special-purpose computer system2300.

Special-purpose computer system 2300 comprises a computer 2302, amonitor 2306 coupled to computer 2302, one or more additional useroutput devices 2330 (optional) coupled to computer 2302, one or moreuser input devices 2340 (e.g., keyboard, mouse, track ball, touchscreen) coupled to computer 2302, an optional communications interface2350 coupled to computer 2302, a computer-program product 2305 stored ina tangible computer-readable memory in computer 2302. Computer-programproduct 2305 directs computer system 2300 to perform the above-describedmethods. Computer 2302 may include one or more processors 2360 thatcommunicate with a number of peripheral devices via a bus subsystem2390. These peripheral devices may include user output device(s) 2330,user input device(s) 2340, communications interface 2350, and a storagesubsystem, such as random access memory (RAM) 2370 and non-volatilestorage drive 2380 (e.g., disk drive, optical drive, solid state drive),which are forms of tangible computer-readable memory.

Computer-program product 2305 may be stored in non-volatile storagedrive 2380 or another computer-readable medium accessible to computer2302 and loaded into random access memory (RAM) 2370. Each processor2360 may comprise a microprocessor, such as a microprocessor from Intel®or Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.®, or the like. To supportcomputer-program product 2305, the computer 2302 runs an operatingsystem that handles the communications of computer-program product 2305with the above-noted components, as well as the communications betweenthe above-noted components in support of the computer-program product2305. Exemplary operating systems include Windows® or the like fromMicrosoft Corporation, Solaris® from Sun Microsystems, LINUX, UNIX, andthe like.

User input devices 2340 include all possible types of devices andmechanisms to input information to computer 2302. These may include akeyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a scanner, a digital drawing pad, a touchscreen incorporated into the display, audio input devices such as voicerecognition systems, microphones, and other types of input devices. Invarious embodiments, user input devices 2340 are typically embodied as acomputer mouse, a trackball, a track pad, a joystick, wireless remote, adrawing tablet, a voice command system. User input devices 2340typically allow a user to select objects, icons, text and the like thatappear on the monitor 2306 via a command such as a click of a button orthe like. User output devices 2330 include all possible types of devicesand mechanisms to output information from computer 2302. These mayinclude a display (e.g., monitor 2306), printers, non-visual displayssuch as audio output devices, etc.

Communications interface 2350 provides an interface to othercommunication networks, such as communication network 2395, and devicesand may serve as an interface to receive data from and transmit data toother systems, WANs and/or the Internet. Embodiments of communicationsinterface 2350 typically include an Ethernet card, a modem (telephone,satellite, cable, ISDN), a (asynchronous) digital subscriber line (DSL)unit, a FireWire® interface, a USB® interface, a wireless networkadapter, and the like. For example, communications interface 2350 may becoupled to a computer network, to a FireWire® bus, or the like. In otherembodiments, communications interface 2350 may be physically integratedon the motherboard of computer 2302, and/or may be a software program,or the like.

RAM 2370 and non-volatile storage drive 2380 are examples of tangiblecomputer-readable media configured to store data such ascomputer-program product embodiments of the present invention, includingexecutable computer code, human-readable code, or the like. Other typesof tangible computer-readable media include floppy disks, removable harddisks, optical storage media such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, bar codes,semiconductor memories such as flash memories, read-only-memories(ROMs), battery-backed volatile memories, networked storage devices, andthe like. RAM 2370 and non-volatile storage drive 2380 may be configuredto store the basic programming and data constructs that provide thefunctionality of various embodiments of the present invention, asdescribed above.

Software instruction sets that provide the functionality of the presentinvention may be stored in RAM 2370 and non-volatile storage drive 2380.These instruction sets or code may be executed by the processor(s) 2360.RAM 2370 and non-volatile storage drive 2380 may also provide arepository to store data and data structures used in accordance with thepresent invention. RAM 2370 and non-volatile storage drive 2380 mayinclude a number of memories including a main random access memory (RAM)to store instructions and data during program execution and a read-onlymemory (ROM) in which fixed instructions are stored. RAM 2370 andnon-volatile storage drive 2380 may include a file storage subsystemproviding persistent (non-volatile) storage of program and/or datafiles. RAM 2370 and non-volatile storage drive 2380 may also includeremovable storage systems, such as removable flash memory.

Bus subsystem 2390 provides a mechanism to allow the various componentsand subsystems of computer 2302 to communicate with each other asintended. Although bus subsystem 2390 is shown schematically as a singlebus, alternative embodiments of the bus subsystem may utilize multiplebusses or communication paths within the computer 2302.

It should be noted that the methods, systems, and devices discussedabove are intended merely to be examples. It must be stressed thatvarious embodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures orcomponents as appropriate. For instance, it should be appreciated that,in alternative embodiments, the methods may be performed in an orderdifferent from that described, and that various steps may be added,omitted, or combined. Also, features described with respect to certainembodiments may be combined in various other embodiments. Differentaspects and elements of the embodiments may be combined in a similarmanner. Also, it should be emphasized that technology evolves and, thus,many of the elements are examples and should not be interpreted to limitthe scope of the invention.

Specific details are given in the description to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practicedwithout these specific details. For example, well-known, processes,structures, and techniques have been shown without unnecessary detail inorder to avoid obscuring the embodiments. This description providesexample embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope,applicability, or configuration of the invention. Rather, the precedingdescription of the embodiments will provide those skilled in the artwith an enabling description for implementing embodiments of theinvention. Various changes may be made in the function and arrangementof elements without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Also, it is noted that the embodiments may be described as a processwhich is depicted as a flow diagram or block diagram. Although each maydescribe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operationscan be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order ofthe operations may be rearranged. A process may have additional stepsnot included in the figure.

Having described several embodiments, it will be recognized by those ofskill in the art that various modifications, alternative constructions,and equivalents may be used without departing from the spirit of theinvention. For example, the above elements may merely be a component ofa larger system, wherein other rules may take precedence over orotherwise modify the application of the invention. Also, a number ofsteps may be undertaken before, during, or after the above elements areconsidered. Accordingly, the above description should not be taken aslimiting the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hazard detector, comprising: at least onehazard detection sensor that detects a presence of at least one type ofhazard; a motion detection sensor that detects motion in an ambientenvironment of the hazard detector; a speaker; a light that comprisesmultiple lighting elements; and a processing system provided inoperative communication with the at least one hazard detection sensor,the motion detection sensor, and the light, the processing systemconfigured to: select an illumination state from a plurality ofillumination states, wherein each illumination state of the plurality ofillumination states is assigned to a status associated with the hazarddetector; cause the light to illuminate based on the selectedillumination state of the plurality of illumination states; determine agesture has been performed based on analyzing motion detected by themotion detection sensor in the ambient environment of the hazarddetector following the light being illuminated based on the selectedillumination state; and output a detail of the status via the speakercorresponding to the illumination state in response to determining thegesture has been performed.
 2. The hazard detector of claim 1, furthercomprising: a light sensor that senses a brightness level in the ambientenvironment of the hazard detector.
 3. The hazard detector of claim 2,wherein the processing system is further configured to: receive anindication of the brightness level in the ambient environment of thehazard detector from the light sensor; determine the brightness level inthe ambient environment of the hazard detector has decreased to athreshold value; and activate the motion detection sensor in response tothe brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detectorreaching the threshold value.
 4. The hazard detector of claim 3, whereinthe processing system is further configured to: monitor, using themotion detection sensor, for the gesture for up to a predefined periodof time following activation.
 5. The hazard detector of claim 4, furthercomprising: an on-board battery module that powers the hazard detector,wherein the motion detection sensor is powered exclusively by theon-board battery module.
 6. The hazard detector of claim 5, wherein theillumination state is indicative of a low-battery status of the on-boardbattery module of the hazard detector.
 7. The hazard detector of claim1, wherein the detail of the status output by the speaker is a spokenauditory message.
 8. The hazard detector of claim 1, wherein theprocessing system being configured to determine the gesture has beenperformed comprises the processing system being configured to: determinea plurality of waves have been performed as the gesture by a user in theambient environment of the hazard detector.
 9. The hazard detector ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one hazard detection sensor comprises asmoke detection sensor and a carbon monoxide detection sensor.
 10. Amethod for a hazard detector to output a status detail, the methodcomprising: selecting, by the hazard detector, an illumination statefrom a plurality of illumination states, wherein each illumination stateof the plurality of illumination states is assigned to a statusassociated with the hazard detector; causing, by the hazard detector, alight of the hazard detector to illuminate based on the selectedillumination state of the plurality of illumination states; determining,by the hazard detector, a gesture has been performed based on analyzingmotion detected in the ambient environment of the hazard detectorfollowing the light being illuminated based on the selected illuminationstate; and outputting, by the hazard detector, a detail of the statusvia a speaker corresponding to the illumination state in response todetermining the gesture has been performed.
 11. The method for thehazard detector to output the status detail of claim 10, the methodfurther comprising: sensing, by the hazard detector, the brightnesslevel in the ambient environment of the hazard detector from the lightsensor; determining, by the hazard detector, the brightness level in theambient environment of the hazard detector has decreased to a thresholdvalue; and activating, by the hazard detector, a motion detection sensorin response to the brightness level in the ambient environment of thehazard detector reaching the threshold value.
 12. The method for thehazard detector to output the status detail of claim 10, the methodfurther comprising: determining, by the hazard detector, a plurality ofwaves have been performed as the gesture by a user in the ambientenvironment of the hazard detector.
 13. The method for the hazarddetector to output the status detail of claim 10, the method furthercomprising: monitoring, by the hazard detector, for the gesture for upto a predefined period of time following activation.
 14. The method forthe hazard detector to output the status detail of claim 10, wherein theat least one hazard detection sensor detects smoke and carbon monoxide.15. A hazard detector apparatus comprising: means for selecting anillumination state from a plurality of illumination states, wherein eachillumination state of the plurality of illumination states is assignedto a status associated with the hazard detector apparatus; means forcausing an illumination means of the hazard detector apparatus toilluminate based on the selected illumination state of the plurality ofillumination states; means for determining a gesture has been performedbased on analyzing motion detected in the ambient environment of thehazard detector apparatus following the lighting means being illuminatedbased on the selected illumination state; and means for outputting adetail of the status via an auditory means corresponding to theillumination state in response to determining the gesture has beenperformed.
 16. The hazard detector apparatus of claim 15, furthercomprising: means for sensing the brightness level in the ambientenvironment of the hazard detector from the light sensor; means fordetermining the brightness level in the ambient environment of thehazard detector has decreased to a threshold value; and means foractivating a motion detection means in response to the brightness levelin the ambient environment of the hazard detector reaching the thresholdvalue.
 17. The hazard detector apparatus of claim 15, furthercomprising: means for determining a plurality of waves have beenperformed as the gesture by a user in the ambient environment of thehazard detector.
 18. The hazard detector apparatus of claim 15, furthercomprising: means for monitoring for the gesture for up to a predefinedperiod of time following activation.
 19. The hazard detector apparatusof claim 15, further comprising: a means for powering the hazarddetector apparatus, the means for powering the hazard detector apparatusbeing used to store power within the hazard detector apparatus.
 20. Thehazard detector apparatus of claim 15, further comprising: means fordetecting smoke; and means for detecting carbon monoxide.